Dr Chenming Zhang
Senior Research Fellow
School of Civil Engineering
+61 7 334 67821
Researcher biography
Dr Chenming Zhang is a specialist in monitoring and modelling hydrological processes in coastal/terrestrial groundwater systems and tailings storage facilities, in particular the evaporation induced mass and heat transport in soil/tailings, hydrogeochemical dynamics in aquifer systems and wast rock dumps. He has been developing IoT-based geotechnical and environmental instruments to monitor continuously and in real-time the weather, soil and water conditions.
Journal Articles
Zhang, Wenqiang, Zhang, Chenming, Lei, Ximing, Olaya, Sebastian Quintero, Zhu, Yuyang and Williams, David J. (2025). Performance assessment of a monolithic soil cover over hypersaline bauxite residue under natural weather conditions. Engineering Geology, 353 108120, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2025.108120
Yin, Yajuan, Wang, Tao and Zhang, Chenming (2025). Numerical study of the land-sourced iron precipitation and its effects on porewater flow at subterranean estuaries. Chemical Geology, 682 122744, 122744-682. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2025.122744
Wang, Tao, Zhang, Chenming, Barry, David Andrew, Chen, Jiansheng, Wang, Yuan, Ren, Jie and Li, Ling (2025). Efficient Implementation of Tidal Forcing in Simulations of Groundwater Dynamics in Subterranean Estuaries. Water Resources Research, 61 (2) e2024WR038145, 2. doi: 10.1029/2024wr038145
Ge, Jingyu, Li, Jiuling, Qiu, Ruihong, Shi, Tao, Zhang, Chenming, Huang, Zi and Yuan, Zhiguo (2024). A data-driven method for estimating sewer inflow and infiltration based on temperature and conductivity monitoring. Water Research, 261 122002, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122002
Zhang, Jiaxu, Lu, Chunhui and Zhang, Chenming (2024). Dense contaminants mixing into the saltwater wedge in coastal aquifers: laboratory and numerical investigations. Water Resources Research, 60 (7) e2024WR037452, 1-20. doi: 10.1029/2024wr037452
Fan, Yu, Shen, Chengji, Xie, Yifan, Lu, Chunhui, Zhang, Chenming and Li, Ling (2024). Variable-density solute transport in unconfined coastal aquifers with a subsurface dam. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11 1422615, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1422615
Li, Congrui, Gibbes, Badin, Liu, Yue, Liu, Xiaocheng and Zhang, Chenming (2024). Groundwater, salt and contaminant transport in a coastal aquifer system with a low‐permeability layer in the intertidal zone. Hydrological Processes, 38 (5) e15149, 1-17. doi: 10.1002/hyp.15149
Zhang, Jiaxu, Lu, Chunhui, Shen, Chengji, Liu, Yuxuan, Werner, Adrian D. and Zhang, Chenming (2024). Flow and transport in coastal aquifer‐aquitard systems: experimental and numerical analysis. Water Resources Research, 60 (4) e2023WR035200, 1-21. doi: 10.1029/2023wr035200
Wang, Tao, Zhang, Chenming, Ma, Ye, Hofmann, Harald, Li, Congrui and Zhao, Zicheng (2024). Numerical analysis of the abiotic formation and distribution of the “iron curtain” in subterranean estuaries. Environmental Modelling and Software, 171 105894, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2023.105894
Liu, Xiaocheng, Zhang, Chenming, Liu, Yue, Li, Congrui, Shen, Chengji, Xin, Pei, Li, Ling and Lockington, David A. (2023). Processes controlling formation of salt efflorescence in coastal salt flats. Water Resources Research, 59 (12) e2022WR034279. doi: 10.1029/2022wr034279
Yao, Yuting, Kong, Jun, Zhang, Chenming, Tang, Zixuan, Shen, Chengji, Luo, Zhaoyang, Lu, Chunhui, Feng, Xuejun and Sun, Yang (2023). Perturbations of heterotrophs and autotrophs in tidally dynamic coastal sediments: development of a scalable model. Hydrological Processes, 37 (9) e14964. doi: 10.1002/hyp.14964
Zhang, Wenqiang, Zhang, Chenming, Lei, Ximing, Quintero Olaya, Sebastian, Zhu, Yuyang, Zhao, Zicheng, Jensen, Steve and Williams, David John (2023). Instrumented column testing on long-term consolidation and desiccation behaviour of coal tailings under natural weather conditions. Acta Geotechnica, 19 (4), 1891-1909. doi: 10.1007/s11440-023-01984-4
Tian, Hua, Williams, David J., Mandisodza, Keith, Zhang, Chenming, Olaya, Sebastian Quintero, Zhang, Wenqiang and Tang, Chongyi (2023). Engineering properties of fine-grained red mud. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 37 (6), 399-418. doi: 10.1080/17480930.2023.2212575
Zhao, Zicheng, Zhang, Chenming, Cao, Wenran, Hofmann, Harald, Wang, Tao and Li, Ling (2023). Oxidative precipitation of Fe(II) in porous media: laboratory experiment and numerical simulation. ACS EST Water, 3 (4), 963-973. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00458
Shen, Chengji, Fan, Yu, Zou, Yongqing, Lu, Chunhui, Kong, Jun, Liu, Yue, Li, Ling and Zhang, Chenming (2023). Characterisation of hypersaline zones in salt marshes. Environmental Research Letters, 18 (4) 044028, 1-10. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/acc418
Yin, Yajuan, Wang, Tao, Chen, Jiansheng and Zhang, Chenming (2023). Estimation of groundwater residence time with deeply-derived carbon mixture considered in California. Science of the Total Environment, 863 160766, 160766. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160766
Wang, Tao, Zhang, Chenming, Shen, Chengji, Li, Congrui and Li, Ling (2023). Benchmarking water and salt dynamics at subterranean estuaries using TOUGHREACT. Journal of Hydrology, 618 129271, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2023.129271
Yao, Yuting, Kong, Jun, Zhang, Chenming, Tang, Zixuan, Shen, Chengji, Luo, Zhaoyang, Lu, Chunhui, Feng, Xuejun and Sun, Yang (2022). Zonations and oscillations via heterotrophic processes in tidal unvegetated aquifers. Hydrological Processes, 36 (8) e14654, 1-20. doi: 10.1002/hyp.14654
Li, Congrui, Zhang, Chenming, Gibbes, Badin, Wang, Tao and Lockington, David (2022). Coupling effects of tide and salting-out on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) transport and adsorption in a coastal aquifer. Advances in Water Resources, 166 104240, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2022.104240
Liu, Yue, Zhang, Chenming, Liu, Xiaocheng, Li, Congrui, Sheuermann, Alexander, Xin, Pei, Li, Ling and Lockington, David A. (2022). Salt transport under tide and evaporation in a subtropical wetland: field monitoring and numerical simulation. Water Resources Research, 58 (5) e2021WR031530. doi: 10.1029/2021wr031530
Mo, Yuming, Jin, Guangqiu, Zhang, Chenming, Xu, Jing, Tang, Hongwu, Shen, Chengji, Scheuermann, Alexander and Li, Ling (2021). Combined effect of inland groundwater input and tides on flow and salinization in the coastal reservoir and adjacent aquifer. Journal of Hydrology, 600 126575, 126575. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126575
Islam, Shriful, Williams, David J. and Zhang, Chenming (2021). Effect of initial specimen height and solids concentration on the consolidation parameters of fine-grained coal tailings. Mining Technology, 130 (4), 244-256. doi: 10.1080/25726668.2021.1957539
Zhang, Jiaxu, Lu, Chunhui, Shen, Chengji, Zhang, Chenming, Kong, Jun and Li, Ling (2021). Effects of a low-permeability layer on unstable flow pattern and land-sourced solute transport in coastal aquifers. Journal of Hydrology, 598 126397, 126397. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126397
Mo, Yuming, Jin, Guangqiu, Zhang, Chenming, Xu, Jing, Tang, Hongwu, Shen, Chengji, Scheuermann, Alexander and Li, Ling (2021). Effects of the deep pool on groundwater flow and salinization in coastal reservoir and adjacent aquifer. Water Resources Management, 35 (8), 2667-2684. doi: 10.1007/s11269-021-02858-8
Wang, Tao, Chen, Jiansheng and Zhang, Chenming (2021). Estimation of fossil groundwater mass fraction accounting for endogenic carbon input across California. Journal of Hydrology, 595 126034, 126034. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126034
Ma, Y., Kong, X.‐Z., Zhang, C., Scheuermann, A., Bringemeier, D. and Li, L. (2021). Quantification of natural CO2 emission through faults and fracture zones in coal basins. Geophysical Research Letters, 48 (7) e2021GL092693, 1-11. doi: 10.1029/2021gl092693
Islam, Shriful, Williams, David J., Zhang, Chenming and Llano-Serna, Marcelo (2021). Geotechnical characterisation of coal tailings down the beach and constant rate of loading consolidation in a slurry consolidometer. Mining Technology, 130 (2), 67-80. doi: 10.1080/25726668.2021.1880351
America, Ilja, Zhang, Chenming, Werner, Adrian D. and Zee, Sjoerd E. A. T. M. (2020). Evaporation and salt accumulation effects on riparian freshwater lenses. Water Resources Research, 56 (12) e2019WR026380, 1-21. doi: 10.1029/2019wr026380
Islam, Shriful, Williams, David J., Llano-Serna, Marcelo and Zhang, Chenming (2020). Settling, consolidation and shear strength behaviour of coal tailings slurry. International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, 30 (6), 849-857. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmst.2020.03.013
Wang, Tao, Chen, Jiansheng, Zhang, Chenming, Zhan, Lucheng, Guyot, Adrien and Li, Ling (2020). An entropy-based analysis method of precipitation isotopes revealing main moisture transport corridors globally. Global and Planetary Change, 187 103134, 103134. doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2020.103134
Zhan, Lucheng, Chen, Jiansheng, Zhang, Chenming, Wang, Tao, Xin, Pei and Li, Ling (2020). Fog interception maintains a major waterfall landscape in southwest China revealed by isotopic signatures. Water Resources Research, 56 (3) e2019WR025628, 1-15. doi: 10.1029/2019wr025628
Wang, Tao, Chen, Jiansheng, Zhang, Chenming, Zhan, Lucheng and Li, Ling (2020). 14 C‐dating model for groundwater affected by CO 2 inputs from deep underground formations. Water Resources Research, 56 (3) e2019WR025155. doi: 10.1029/2019wr025155
Nguyen, Thuy T.M., Yu, Xiayang, Pu, Li, Xin, Pei, Zhang, Chenming, Barry, D.A. and Li, Ling (2020). Effects of temperature on tidally influenced coastal unconfined aquifers. Water Resources Research, 56 (4) e2019WR026660. doi: 10.1029/2019wr026660
Shen, Chengji, Zhang, Chenming, Kong, Jun, Xin, Pei, Lu, Chunhui, Zhao, Zhongwei and Li, Ling (2019). Solute transport influenced by unstable flow in beach aquifers. Advances in Water Resources, 125, 68-81. doi: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2019.01.009
Wang, Nairu, Zhang, Chenming, Xiao, Yang, Jin, Guangqiu and Li, Ling (2018). Transverse hyporheic flow in the cross-section of a compound river system. Advances in Water Resources, 122, 263-277. doi: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2018.10.006
Ye, Ronghui, Zhang, Chenming, Kong, Jun, Jin, Guangqiu, Zhao, Hongjun, Song, Zhiyao and Li, Ling (2018). A non-negative and high-resolution finite volume method for the depth-integrated solute transport equation using an unstructured triangular mesh. Environmental Fluid Mechanics, 18 (6), 1-33. doi: 10.1007/s10652-018-9598-4
Shen, Chengji, Zhang, Chenming, Xin, Pei, Kong, Jun and Li, Ling (2018). Salt dynamics in coastal marshes: formation of hypersaline zones. Water Resources Research, 54 (5), 3259-3276. doi: 10.1029/2017wr022021
Shokouhi, Ali, Zhang, Chenming and Williams, David J (2018). Settling, consolidation and desiccation behaviour of coal tailings slurry. Mining Technology: Transactions of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 127 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/14749009.2017.1308691
Ye, Ronghui, Song, Zhiyao, Zhang, Chenming, He, Yong, Yu, Shunchao, Kong, Jun and Li, Ling (2017). Analytical model for surface saltwater intrusion in estuaries. Journal of Coastal Research, 33 (3), 712-719. doi: 10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-16-00069.1
Xin, Pei, Zhou, Tingzhang, Lu, Chunhui, Shen, Chengji, Zhang, Chenming, D'Alpaos, Andrea and Li, Ling (2017). Combined effects of tides, evaporation and rainfall on the soil conditions in an intertidal creek-marsh system. Advances in Water Resources, 103, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.02.014
Shen, Chengji, Zhang, Chenming, Jin, Guangqiu, Kong, Jun and Li, Ling (2016). Effects of unstable flow on solute transport in the marsh soil and exchange with coastal water. Geophysical Research Letters, 43 (23), 12,091-12,101. doi: 10.1002/2016GL070576
Santos, Isaac R., Zhang, Chenming, Maher, Damien T., Atkins, Marnie L., Holland, Rodney, Morgenstern, Uwe and Li, Ling (2016). Assessing the recharge of a coastal aquifer using physical observations, tritium, groundwater chemistry and modelling. Science of the Total Environment, 580, 367-379. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.181
Zhang, Chenming, Li, Ling and Lockington, David (2015). A physically based surface resistance model for evaporation from bare soils. Water Resources Research, 51 (2), 1084-1111. doi: 10.1002/2014WR015490
Zhang, Chenming, Li, Ling and Lockington, David (2014). Numerical study of evaporation-induced salt accumulation and precipitation in bare saline soils: mechanism and feedback. Water Resources Research, 50 (10), 8084-8106. doi: 10.1002/2013WR015127
Zheng, Jinhai, Wang, Tianwen, Wang, Gang, Zhang, Chenming and Zhang, Chi (2012). Iteration coupling simulation of random waves and wave-induced currents. Journal of Applied Mathematics, 2012 (1) 205376, 205376.1-205376.13. doi: 10.1155/2012/205376
Conference Papers
Cao, Wenran, Zhang, Chenming, Zhao, Zicheng, Hofmann, Harald and Li, Ling (2022). Combined field measurements and numerical simulation of iron transport and transformation in a subterranean estuary. Australian Groundwater Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 21-23 November 2022.
Zhao, Zicheng, Zhang, Chenming and Hofmann, Harald (2022). Transport and transformation of iron in subterranean estuary. Australian Groundwater Conference, Perth, WA Australia, 21-23 November 2022.
Cao, Wenran, Zhang, Chenming, Zhao, Zicheng, Hofmann, Harald and Li, Ling (2022). Field investigation of iron transformation in the subterranean estuary of a coastal bay. Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium 2022 (HWRS 2022): The Past, the Present, the Future, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 30 November - 2 December 2022. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Engineers Australia.
Olaya, Sebastian Quintero, Zhang, Chenming, Williams, David J., Lei, Ximing, Zhao, Zicheng and Llano-Serna, Marcelo (2020). Use of high-performance fibres to enhance tailings. Tailings and Mine Waste 2020, Fort Collins, CO USA, 15-18 November 2020. Vancouver, BC Canada: UBC Studios.
Zhang, Chenming, Williams, David J., Lei, Ximing, Quintero, Sebastian and Ferguson, Tony (2020). Large-scale instrumented column test to assess oxidation and leachate. Tailings and Mine Waste 2020, Fort Collins, CO USA, 15-18 November 2020. Vancouver, BC Canada: UBC Studios.
Zhang, Wenqiang, Zhang, Chenming, Lei, Ximing, Zhu, Yuyang, Quintero, Sebastian, Williams, David J. and O'Neill, Mike (2019). Assessing salt migration from compacted bauxite residual into overlying cover using an instrumented column. Tailings and Mine Waste 2019, Vancouver, Canada, 17-20 November 2019. Vancouver, Canada: University of British Columbia.
Villa Gomez, Denys, Botsch Cellette Gomes, Patrick, Hofmann, Harald, Zhang, Chenming and Williams, David (2018). Assessing biotic and abiotic conditions for understanding bioleaching processes in Zn-Pb-Ag tailings. 11th ICARD | IMWA | WISA MWD 2018 Conference – Risk to Opportunity, Pretoria, South Africa , 10 – 14 September 2018. Pretoria, South Africa: International Mine Water Association/WISA Mine Water Division.
Zhang, Chenming, Liu, Yingqi, Li, Tongfei and Zheng, Jinhai (2009). Inner and outer particles searching method with its applying in SPH method. 16th Congress of Asia and Pacific Division of International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research, APD 2008 and the 3rd IAHR International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures, ISHS 2008, , , October 20, 2008-October 23, 2008. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
Li, Tongfei, Liu, Yingqi, Zhang, Chenming and Zheng, Jinhai (2009). Modeling nonlinear wave based on SPH method. 16th Congress of Asia and Pacific Division of International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research, APD 2008 and the 3rd IAHR International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures, ISHS 2008, , , October 20, 2008-October 23, 2008. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
Zheng, Jin-Hai, Zhang, Chen-Ming and Mase, Hajime (2008). Incorporation of surface rollers in modeling wave-driven coastal currents. Chinese-German Joint Symposium on Hydraulic and Ocean Engineering, JOINT 2008, , , August 24, 2008-August 30, 2008. Eigen-Verlag.
Research Report
Edraki, Mansour, Williams, David and Zhan, Chenming (2020). Simulated weathering of coated sulfidic shales, report for Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Thesis
Zhang, Chenming (2014). Hydrodynamic and thermodynamic processes during evaporation from bare soils. PhD Thesis, School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2014.351