Ying Wang

Dr. Ying Wang is a construction materials consultant specializing in cements, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and concrete including durability, failure analysis, and performance evaluation in a variety of applications. She has supported infrastructure owners, DOTs, cement and concrete manufacturers, and standards bodies by assessing durability risks, identifying root causes of construction material degradation, and improving long‑term service life.

Dr. Ying Wang specializes in material characterization, durability assessment, and failure analysis of cement and concrete materials used in infrastructure and construction applications, with particular emphasis on traditional and novel cementitious systems. Her work integrates cement and concrete materials science, laboratory testing, and microstructural and physicochemical characterization to assess performance and degradation potential, identify root causes of durability‑related issues, and support optimization of materials for long‑term performance in various service conditions. Her expertise includes multi‑scale physicochemical characterization and performance evaluation of cementitious materials using techniques such as XRD, XRF, SEM‑EDS, FTIR, TGA, PSD, BET, and isothermal calorimetry; assessment of SCMs reactivity; and evaluation of concrete rheology, mechanical properties, and durability. Dr. Wang has developed and validated novel methods for assessing the reactivity and long-term performance of marginal and conventional SCMs, and activating existing low‑reactivity materials for use as SCMs, enabling the effective use of unconventional fly ashes, pozzolans, slags, pumice, glass, and clays in concrete applications.

Since joining Exponent as a construction materials consultant, Dr. Wang has supported projects involving concrete durability performance evaluation and materials failure analysis. Her experience includes assessing durability‑related performance of concrete materials using laboratory testing and analytical methods, interpreting results to identify degradation mechanisms relevant to service environments, and applying failure analysis methodologies to address material-related performance issues. Across her consulting work, Dr. Wang utilizes data analysis and interpretation to translate laboratory findings into clear, defensible guidance that supports client decision‑making.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Wang worked in construction materials research and development, supporting the formulation, validation, and scale‑up of novel cementitious materials, including low‑carbon and alternative cementitious binder systems. Her work involved durability testing, experimental design, microstructural and physicochemical characterization, and performance benchmarking of cement and concrete materials under relevant service conditions. She also supported development of strategies to improve durability, consistency, and long‑term reliability, and contributed to scale‑up validation efforts by linking laboratory durability data to deployment and implementation considerations.

Dr. Wang earned her Ph.D. in Civil and Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami, where her research focused on cementitious materials durability, supplementary and alternative cementitious materials, and sustainable infrastructure materials. Dr. Wang earned her B.S. and M.Eng. degrees in Mineral Processing Engineering and has expertise in a range of mineral processing techniques, including gravity separation, magnetic separation, flotation, hydrometallurgical leaching, and microbiological methods for metal extraction. She developed approaches to reduce mine tailings through their use as concrete constituents for mine backfill. Dr. Wang has authored many peer‑reviewed publications and is a member of professional organizations including the American Concrete Institute (ACI), ASTM International, RILEM, and the American Ceramic Society (ACerS).