Wenbo Zheng

Zheng, Dr. Wenbo

he/him

PhD (University of British Columbia), MEng, BEng (Tongji University, China), PEng (EGBC)

Assistant Professor
Phone
Office
10-2536
Campus
Prince George

Biography

Dr. Wenbo Zheng is an Assistant Professor in Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Northern British Columbia. Wenbo received his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in Kelowna, and a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree from Tongji University in China, all in geotechnical engineering.

Wenbo is a member of numerous societies, including CGS, CSCE, ISRM, CIM, ISSMGE, and IAEG. He is an executive member of several technical divisions of the Canadian Geotechnical Society, including the Soil Mechanics & Foundation Division, the Rock Mechanics Division, and the EDI task force group. He chairs the Northern BC Section of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering. He has been an external reviewer for NSERC, MITACS, and more than 30 international journals in resource geotechnics.

Research and Expertise

Wenbo’s research interests lie in geomechanics that applies to a broad spectrum of geo-resource and geohazard issues, including sand proppant/rock mechanics in shale gas extraction, slope stability/landslides, and tunnelling. His current research focuses on integrating advanced laboratory characterization and field monitoring data with computational geomechanics to understand the fundamental behaviours of geomaterials and their implication for engineering applications. Wenbo has authored over 50 peer-reviewed journal publications.

Research Fields
  • Energy
  • Engineering
  • Natural Hazards
  • Natural Resources
Areas of Expertise
Geotechnical Engineering; Geohazards; Geo-energies; Numerical Modelling; Laboratory Testing
Languages Spoken
  • Mandarin
  • English
Currently accepting graduate students
Supervises In
PhD NRES, MSc NRES, MASc Engineering
Graduate Supervisor Details
Currently, I am looking for motivated PhD and master's students for several upcoming research projects: (1) numerical modelling for hydraulic fracturing in shale rock; (2) monitoring and numerical modelling of tailings dam seepage, deformation and stability; and (3) coupled computational fluid dynamics and discrete element methods for liquefaction flow slide simulations.

Prospective UNBC undergrads can check UNBC research opportunities with funding (Undergraduate Research Experience Award, International Student Research Award, Research Project Awards, NSERC – Undergraduate Student Research Award).
Prospective visiting students can check Mitacs Globalink programs: Globalink Internships for undergrads and Globalink Research Award for graduate students.
Available to be contacted by the media as a subject matter expert