1.材料组织演化的数值模型及高效、大规模计算方法；
2.凝固组织演化模拟及原位观察实验
3.多元-多相-多场耦合相场模型及计算程序开发
4.合金凝固形核及生长动力学；
5.合金凝固组织演化机理；
6.合金微观和宏观偏析演化行为和控制。

相关研究在Acta Mater.等期刊发表论文30余篇，在国内国际学术会议做邀请报告多次，培养研究生5名，其中已毕业2名博士生均获得师昌绪二等奖学金。代表性论文如下：
1.T. Gong,Y. Chen*, S. Li, Y. Cao, D. Li, X.-Q. Chen, G. Reinhart, H. Nguyen-Thi. Revisiting dynamics and models of microsegregation during polycrystalline solidification of binary alloy. J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 2021;74:155.
2.J.K. Ren,Y. Chen, Y.F. Cao, M.Y. Sun*, B. Xu, D.Z. Li. Modeling motion and growth of multiple dendrites during solidification based on vector-valued phase field and two-phase flow models. J. Mater. Sci. Technol. 2020;58:171.
3.T.Z. Gong, Y. Chen*, D.Z. Li, Y.F. Cao, P.X. Fu. Quantitative comparison of dendritic growth under forced flow between 2D and 3D phase-field simulation. Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 2019;135:262.
4.T.Z. Gong, Y. Chen*, Y.F. Cao, X.H. Kang, D.Z. Li. Fast simulations of a large number of crystals growth in centimeter-scale during alloy solidification via nonlinearly preconditioned quantitative phase-field formula. Comput. Mater. Sci. 2018;147:338.
5.X.B. Qi, Y.Chen*, X.H. Kang, D.Z. Li, T.Z. Gong Modeling of coupled motion and growth interaction of equiaxed dendritic crystals in a binary alloy during solidification. Scientific Reports. 2017;7: 45770.
6.Y.F. Cao, Y. Chen*, D.Z. Li. Formation mechanism of channel segregation in carbon steels by inclusion flotation: X-ray microtomography characterization and multi-phase flow modeling. Acta Mater. 2016;107:325.
7.Y. Chen, B. Billia, D.Z. Li*, H. Nguyen-Thi, N.M. Xiao, A.-A. Bogno. Tip-splitting instability and transition to seaweed growth during alloy solidification in anisotropically preferred growth direction. Acta Mater. 2014;66:219.
8.X.B. Qi,Y. Chen, X.H. Kang, D.Z. Li, Q. Du*. An analytical approach for predicting as-cast grain size of inoculated aluminum alloys. Acta Mater. 2015;99:337.
9.Y. Chen*, N.M. Xiao, D.Z. Li, T.Z. Gong, H. Nguyen-Thi. The diffusion and solid-liquid phase transformation in directional solidification of alloy: A quantitative phase field characterization and real-time observation. Diffusion Foundations 2018;15:97.
10.Y.F. Cao, Y. Chen *, P.X. Fu, H.W. Liu, D.Z. Li The Experimental Characterization and Numerical Simulation of A-Segregates in 27SiMn Steel. Metall. Mater. Trans. A. 2017;48:2260.
11.Y.F. Cao, Y. Chen*, D.Z. Li, H.W. Liu, P.X. Fu. Comparison of channel segregation formation in model alloys and steels via numerical simulations. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 2016;47:2927.
12.Y. Chen, X.B. Qi, D.Z. Li*, X.H. Kang, N.M. Xiao. A quantitative phase-field model combining with front-tracking method for polycrystalline solidification of alloys. Comput. Mater. Sci. 2015;104:155.
13.X.B. Qi, Y. Chen*, X.H. Kang, D.Z. Li. The effect of natural convection on equiaxed dendritic growth: Quantitative phase-field simulation and comparison with synchrotron X-ray radiography monitoring data. Adv. Mater. Sci. Eng. 2016;2016:5286168.
14.Y. Chen, D. Li, T. Gong, H. Hao. Efficient simulation schemes for large-scale phase-field modelling of polycrystalline growth during alloy solidification. In: D. Dao, R.J. Howlett, R. Setchi, L. Vlacic, editors. Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2018. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2019. p.304.
15.Y. Chen*, X.B. Qi, D.Z. Li, X.H. Kang. Prediction of melt flow effects on dendrite growth. Mater. Sci. Forum 2016;850:334.
16.Y.F. Cao, Y. Chen*, X.P. Ma, P.X. Fu, X.H. Kang, H.W. Liu, D.Z. Li. The effect of alloy elements on the density variation of steel melt at the interdendritic region during solidification. IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 2016;117:012066.
17.J.K. Ren, Y. Chen, B. Xu, M.Y. Sun*, D.Z. Li. A vector-valued phase field model for polycrystalline solidification using operator splitting method. Comput. Mater. Sci. 2019;163:37.
18.W. Yan, N. Xiao*, Y. Chen, D. Li. Phase-field modeling of Widmanstätten ferrite formation during isothermal transformation in low carbon steels. Comput. Mater. Sci. 2014;81:503.
19.D. Li*, X.-Q. Chen, P. Fu, X. Ma, H. Liu, Y. Chen, Y. Cao, Y. Luan, Y. Li. Inclusion flotation-driven channel segregation in solidifying steels. Nat. Commun. 2014;5:5572.
20.Y. Shi, M. Liu, Y. Chen, X. Wang, W. Mo, D. Li, T. Fa, B. Bai, X. Wang, X.-Q. Chen. Evolution of local atomic structure during solidification of U116Nb12 liquid: An ab initio molecular dynamics study. J. Alloys Compd. 2019;787:267.
21.Y. Chen, D.Z. Li, B. Billia, H. Nguyen-Thi, X.B. Qi, N.M. Xiao. Quantitative Phase-field Simulation of Dendritic Equiaxed Growth and Comparison with in Situ Observation on Al – 4 wt.% Cu Alloy by Means of Synchrotron X-ray Radiography. ISIJ Int. 2014;54:445.
22.Y. Chen, A.-A. Bogno, N. M. Xiao, B. Billia, X. H. Kang, H. Nguyen-Thi, X.H. Luo, D. Z. Li. Quantitatively comparing phase-field modeling with direct real time observation by synchrotron X-ray radiography of the initial transient during directional solidification of an Al–Cu alloy. Acta Mater. 60 (2012) 199.
23.Y. Chen, A.-A. Bogno, B. Billia, X. H. Kang, H. Nguyen-Thi, D. Z. Li, X. H. Luo, J.-M. Debierre. Phase-field modeling of the initial transient in directional solidification of Al-4wt.%Cu alloy. ISIJ Int. 50 (2010) 1895.
24.陈云, 康秀红, 李殿中, 自由枝晶生长相场模型的自适应有限元法模拟. 物理学报. 58 (2009) 390.
25.陈云, 康秀红, 肖纳敏, 郑成武, 李殿中, 多晶体材料晶粒生长粗化过程的相场方法模拟. 物理学报. 58 (2009) S124.
26.N. M. Xiao, Y. Chen, D. Z. Li*, Y. Y. Li. Progress in mesoscopic modeling of microstructure evolution in steels. Sci. China-Technol. Sci. 55 (2012) 341.