現主持國家自然科學基金面上項目1項,參加國家自然科學基金、航空科學基金、973項目等多項科研工作。2003年以來,在Al晶界的雜質效應方面進行了系統的研究。應用“第一原理拉伸試驗”方法研究了雜質偏析對Al晶界結構和力學性能的影響,揭示了不同雜質(Na、Ca、S和Ga)偏析引起Al晶界脆化的物理機制。2007年至今,開展核聚變能源材料輻照效應方面的計算模擬研究,主要是Fe中的He效應和W中的H效應。近年來在Physical Review B、Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter等學術刊物發表論文20篇,其中已被SCI收錄17篇。5篇代表性論文:
1. Ying Zhang, Guang-Hong Lu, M.Kohyama, and Tianmin Wang, Investigating effects of a Ga layer on an Al grain boundary by a first-principles computational tensile test, Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering 17,015003 (2009)
2.Ying Zhang., Guang-Hong Lu, S Deng., T. Wang, H. Xu., M. Kohyama, R. Yamamoto, Weakening of an aluminum grain boundary induced by sulfur segregation:A first-principles computational tensile test, Physical Review B, 75: 174101(2007)
3. Ying Zhang, Guang-Hong Lu, X Hu., T.Wang, M.Kohyama, R Yamamoto., First-principles computational tensile test on a Na-segregated Al grain boundary with a Si additive and an intergranular embrittlement suppression mechanism,Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 19: 456225(2007)
4. Ying Zhang, Guang-Hong Lu, S. Deng, Tianmin Wang, X. Shu, M. Kohyama, R. Yamamoto, First-principles study of effects of segregated Ga on an Al grain boundary, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 18, 5121 (2006).
5. Ying Zhang, Guang-Hong Lu, Tianmin Wang, S. Deng, M. Kohyama, and R. Yamamoto, Effects of segregated Ga on an Al grain boundary: a first-principles computational tensile test, Materials Transactions 47, 2678 (2006).