The School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics at Tongji University was strategically founded in January 2004, in response to the thriving nationwide Aeronautics and Space Industry, and in support of the industry as Shanghai’s pillar industry. The school succeeds and develops from the former Department of Engineering Mechanics and Technology, gathering multi-disciplinary forces from all across the university.

The school provides 2 bachelor programs in Engineering Mechanics and in Aircraft Manufacturing, 2 master programs in Mechanics and in Aeronautical and Astronautical Science and Technology, a doctor program in Mechanics. It also has a post-doctoral mobile station in mechanics.

The school has the National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center, the National Virtual Reality Teaching Center for Mechanics, and the Composite Engineering Experiment Center, whose facilities are available to all university students for mechanical experiments.

The major research areas of the school include mechanical behavior of advanced materials and structures, fluid mechanics, dynamics and control, modern mechanical testing techniques, advanced composite materials and structures, aircraft design and manufacturing. During the past three years, the school has been funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Department of Science and Technology and other sources to undertake 2 key programs, 1 major program, 1 national 973 program, 2 national 863 programs, 23 general programs, 49 programs at the provincial and ministerial level, 77 programs from industry; it also has produced up to 200 SCI-indexed publications and been awarded with 13 provincial-level technological awards.

The school is currently the home of 108 faculty members, out of whom there are 36 professors and 24 associate professors; Among them, 1 is an academician of the CAE Member, 4 are supported by National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 2 supported by Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University from China’s Ministry of Education, 1 supported by the New Centuary National Hundred, Thousand and Ten Thousand Talent Project, 3 awarded as distinguished academic leaders of Shanghai, 2 awarded as leading talents of Shanghai, etc.. The late Prof. Li Guo-Hao, who was the world authority of mechanics and bridge engineering, was a professor in the school.