Benxin Wu

Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Location: West Lafayette

School of Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University
585 Purdue Mall
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2088
wu65@purdue.edu

Office: ME G091 & 2550NW

Phone: (765) 496-0391

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Purdue University, 2007
  • M.S., University of Missouri-Rolla, 2003
  • B.Eng., Tsinghua University, 2001

Research Interests

  • Laser-matter interactions
  • Laser-induced plasma and laser-plasma interaction
  • Laser applications in manufacturing, materials processing, and other areas

Fundamental Research Area(s)

Application Area(s)

Biography


  • Prof. Wu's team study laser-material interactions, laser-induced plasma, and laser-based manufacturing, materials processing, and other technologies, through: (i) computational heat transfer, fluid, and solid mechanics modeling, (ii) in-situ, time-resolved measurements, and (iii) post-process characterizations. Prof. Wu's research has advanced the fundamental understanding of laser-material interactions. He also invented novel and patented manufacturing technologies, such as: (i) Ultrasound-assisted Water-confined Laser Micromachining (UWLM), (ii) Double-Pulse Laser Micro Sintering (DP-LMS), and (iii) laser-based fabrication of metal nanocomposite thin films on flexible substrates. For example, the invented UWLM technology can greatly reduce defects in laser micromachining and has opened a new research direction followed by researchers internationally.

  • Graduate program applicant: If you are interested in studying for a PhD degree starting from Spring 2027 in Prof. Benxin Wu's group, please email your short resume to Prof. Wu at wu65@purdue.edu. PhD program applicants with strong backgrounds in one or more of the thermal, fluid, manufacturing, materials processing or closely related areas are encouraged to apply. Before emailing your resume, please first check and make sure you satisfy all the admission requirements (including meeting the application deadline) of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University.

  • Course Announcement: If you are an undergraduate student or non-thesis graduate student who wants to gain some experience in the area of laser-based manufacturing and materials processing by taking ME 497 (Mechanical Engineering Projects), ME 498 or 499 (Research Mech Engrg), or ME 597 or 697 (Adv Mech Engr Proj), please feel free to email Prof. Benxin Wu (wu65@purdue.edu) with your short resume and a brief summary of your background and interest.

Awards and Recognitions

  • ASME Fellow, 2026
  • NAMRI/SME Outstanding Paper Award, 2018
  • SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, 2013
  • NSF CAREER Award, 2011