Y. Lawrence Yao

Y. Lawrence Yao is Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering. He joined Columbia University in 1994 and served as Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering from 2005 to 2011. He received Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and B.E. degree from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

His research interest is in the area of advanced manufacturing. He pioneered research in many areas of laser materials processing, including laser assisted removal, shaping, joining, and property modification of various materials, and innovative laser applications in renewable energy, biomedical, and art restoration fields. He authored and co-authored over 300 technical papers and was honored with 5 Best Paper awards. He also edited 8 volumes, co-authored 3 book chapters, and holds 5 US patents.

He served as Chair of the Manufacturing Engineering Division (MED) of American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) from 2010 to 2011 and Editor-in-Chief, ASME Transactions Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering from 2012 to 2022. He served as President of North American Manufacturing Research Institute (NAMRI) of Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) during 2009–2010. He served on the Board of Directors, Laser Institute of America (LIA) from 2002 to 2008. He served on the Visiting Committee, Department of Scientific Research at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York from 2006 to 2024. 

He received the Milton C. Shaw Manufacturing Research Medal from ASME, Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Award from ASME, Fulbright Senior Scholar Award, and Outstanding Paper Award from NAMRI. He is a Fellow of ASME, SME, and LIA.

Selected Publications

Over, V., Yao, Y.L., “Effect of Laser Shock Peening on Electrochemistry and Wettability of Additively Maufactured Stainless Steel,“ ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, March 2025, Vol. 147(3), 031008-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4065022.

Over, V., Yao, Y.L., “Mitigation of Stress Corrosion Cracking of Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel By Laser Shock Peening,“ ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, March 2025, Vol. 147(3), 031002-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4066034.

Zhang, T., Yao, Y.L., “Effect of Laser Forming on Fatigue Behavior of Metal Foams,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, September 2022, Vol. 144(9), 091010-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4054454.

Over, V., Donovan, J., Yao, Y.L., “The Effect of Laser Shock Peening on Back Stress of Additively Manufacturing Stainless Steel Parts,“ ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, April 2023, Vol. 145(4), 041005-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4056571.

Over, V., Yao, Y.L., “Laser Shock Peening Induced Back Stress Mitigation in Rolled Stainless Steel,“ ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, June 2022, Vol. 144(6), 061010-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4052909.

Zhang, T., Liu, Y., Ashmore, N., Li, W., Yao, Y.L., “Effect of Laser Forming on the Energy Absorbing Behavior of Metal Foams,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, January 2022, Vol. 144(1), 011001-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4051285.

Shin, Y., Wu, B., Lei, S., Cheng, G., Yao, Y.L., (Invited Paper) “Overview of Laser Applications in Manufacturing and Materials Processing in Recent Years,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, November 2020, Vol. 142(11): 110818-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4048397.

Bucher, T., Finn, C., Verma, R., Li, W., Yao, Y.L., “3D Laser Forming of Metal Foam Sandwich Panels,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, August 2020, 142(8): 081008, DOI: 10.1115/1.4047242.

Lei, S., Zhao, X., Yu, X, Hu, A., Vukelic, S., Jun, M.B.G., Joe, H.-E., Yao, Y.L., Shin, Y.C. (Invited Paper) “Ultrafast Laser Applications in Manufacturing Processes: A State of Art Review,“ ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, March 2020, 142(3): 031005, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4045969.

Lisenko, N., Evans, C., Yao, Y.L., “Effect of Material Composition and Phases on Stress Corrosion Mitigation by Laser Shock Peening,” Manufacturing Letters, 23 (2020) 5-8, Elsevier, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mfglet.2019.11.003.

Bian, D., Tsui, J.C., Kydd, R.R., Shim, D.J., Jones, M., Yao, Y.L., “Interlaminar toughening of fiber reinforced polymers by synergistic modification of resin and fiber,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 141(9):081008-081008-12, 2019, doi: 10.1115/1.4043836.

Bucher, T., Zhang, M., Chen, C., Verma, R., Li, W., Yao, Y.L., “Laser Forming of Metal Foam Sandwich Panels: Effect of Panel Manufacturing Method,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 141(5):051006-051006-11, 2019, doi: 10.1115/1.4043194.

Bucher, T., Cardenas, S., Verma, R., Li, W., Yao, Y.L., “Laser Forming of Sandwich Panels with Metal Foam Core,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 140(11):111015-111015-12, 2018, doi: 10.1115/1.4040959.

Bucher, T., Yao, Y.L., “Advances in Laser Forming of Metal Foam: Mechanism, Predication and Comparison,” Int. J. Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, Vol. 11, No. 2/3, 2018, pp. 250-273, DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2018.092877.

Bucher, T., Young, A., Zhang, M., Chen, C.J., Yao, Y.L., “Thermally Induced Mechanical Response of Metal Foam during Laser Forming,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, Vol. 140, No. 4, 2018, 041004-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4038995.

Zhang, M., Yao, Y.L., Chen, C., Kongsuwan, P., Brandal, G., Bian, D., “Effects of Laser Radiation on the Wetting and Diffusion Characteristics of Kovar Alloy on Borosilicate Glass,” ASME Trans. J. of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, Vol. 140, No. 1, 2018, 011012-1, DOI: 10.1115/1.4037426.

Updated May 27, 2025