Our investigations are conducted via state-of-the-art non-intrusive laser-based diagnostic techniques, computation with detailed chemistry and transport, and mathematical analysis of the flame structure and dynamics, with strong coupling between the individual components.

Research Projects

• Chemical Kinetics Investigation using Rapid Compression Machines
• RCM Modeling
• Conventional/Alternative Jet Fuels and Surrogate Fuels
• Biofuel Combustion
• Gasoline Fuels and Their Surrogates
• Diesel Fuels and Their Surrogates
• Syngas Combustion
• Development of Reduced Mechanisms
• Skeletal Mechanism Generation
• Flame Propagation and Extinction
• Sooting Flames and Limits
• Flame Instability
• Catalyzed Combustion in Micro-Propulsion Devices
• Supersonic Combustion
• Endothermic Fuels
• Dispersion and Catalytic Ignition of Hydrogen Leaks
• Determination of Flame Location using Rainbow Schlieren Deflectometry
• Mid-IR Absorption Spectroscopy
• Fuel Distribution Effects on Pulse Detonation Engine Performance
• Lean Direct Injection (LDI) Combustion
• GPU Computing and SIMD/SIMT Vectorization

Recent Graduates and Theses

Ph.D.

• Xiao Ren, Impact of Mixer Design on Lean Direct Injection Combustion, December 2019.
• Nicholas James Curtis, Accelerating Reactive-Flow Simulations via Vectorized Chemical Kinetic Evaluation, May 2019.
• Goutham Kukkadapu, Autoignition Characteristics of Diesel Fuel and its Surrogates, August 2016.
• Pradeep Kumar Singh, Soot and PAH Formation in Counterflow Non-Premixed Flames: Atmospheric Butane and Butanol Isomers, and Elevated-Pressure Ethylene, August 2016.
• Kyle Benjamin Brady: On the Non-Premixed Counterflow Ignition of Alternative Fuels at Elevated Pressures, August 2015.
• Bryan William Weber: High Pressure Ignition Chemistry of Alternative Fuels, August 2014.
• Kyle Evan Niemeyer: Reducing the Cost of Chemistry in Reactive-Flow Simulations: Novel Mechanism Reduction Strategies and Acceleration via Graphics Processing Units, August 2013.
• Xin Hui: Flame Studies on Conventional, Alternative, and Surrogate Jet Fuels and Their Reference Hydrocarbons, January 2013.
• Apurba Kumar Das: Combustion Characteristics of Moist H₂ and H₂/CO Mixtures and in-situ Temperature and Species Measurements using Mid-IR Absorption Spectroscopy in a New RCM, May 2012.
• Tadas Patrick Bartkus: An Analytical Model based on Experimental Data for the Self-Hydrolysis Kkinetics of Aqueous Sodium Borohydride, January 2011.
• Hugh Douglas Perkins: Development and Demonstration of a Computational Tool for the Analysis of Particle Vitiation Effects in Hypersonic Propulsion Test Facilities, January 2009.
• Amy Florence Mielke: Development of a Molecular Rayleigh Scattering Diagnostic for Simultaneous Time-Resolved Measurement of Temperature, Velocity, and Density, January 2008.
• Kamal Kumar: Global Combustion Responses of Practical Hydrocarbon Fuels: n-Heptane, iso-Octane, n-Decane, n-Dodecane, and Ethylene, May 2007.
• Jagannath Ramchandra Nanduri: A Computational Study of Structure, Stability, Dynamics, and Response of Low Stretch Diffusion Flames, January 2006.
• Gaurav Mittal: A Rapid Compression Machine – Design, Characterization, and Autoignition Investigations, January 2006.
• Bai Han: An Experimental and Computational Study of Burner-Generated Low Stretch Gaseous Diffusion Flames, May 2005.
• Yimin Huang: On Flame Propagation of Primary Reference Fuels and Reformer Gas: Implications for Improved Cold-Start Performance of a SI Engine, May 2003.
• Jennifer Lynn Rhatigan: Effects of Gas-Phase Radiation and Detailed Kinetics on the Burning and Extinction of a Solid Fuel, May 2001.

M.S.

• Peter Bruce Vannorsdall, Sooting Propensities of FACE Gasolines in Counterflow Diffusion Flames, December 2019.
• Kyle Evan Twarog, Investigation of a Non-Premixed Liquid Fuel Injector and Swirler Using a Purpose-Built Combustion Test Rig, May 2019.
• Justin Anthony Bunnell: Autoignition of Methyl Pentanoate at Low to Intermediate Temperatures and Elevated Pressures in a Rapid Compression Machine, August 2015.
• Fabio Poretti: 100% Conversion of Waste Brown Grease to Biodiesel and Syngas as valuable products for Heat and Power Cogeneration, August 2012.
• Bryan William Weber: Autoigniton of n-Butanol at Low to Intermediate Temperature and Elevated Pressure, August 2010.
• Kyle Evan Niemeyer: Skeletal Mechanism Generation for Surrogate Fuels, January 2010.
• Kyle Benjamin Brady: Ignition Propensity of Hydrogen/Air Mixtures in the Presence of Heated Platinum Surfaces, January 2010.
• Jason William Hartwig: Acetone-LIF at Elevated Pressure and Temperature for 282 nm Excitation: Experiments and Modeling, January 2010.
• Jathaveda Maktal: Implementation of Reduced Mechanism in Complex Chemically Reacting Flows, May 2009.
• Matthew Charles Deans: A Computational Study of the Ignition of Premixed Methane and Oxygen via a Hot Stream, May 2009.
• John Joseph Nowakowski: Triple Concentric Jet with Swirl as a Variable Heat Pattern Injector in Industrial Furnace, May 2007.
• Christopher Arnold Mento: Catalytic Combustion of Methane/Hydrogen/Oxygen Mixtures in a Platinum Microtube for Micro-Propulsion Applications, January 2007.
• Joshua Eric Freeh: Laminar Flame Speeds of Preheated iso-Octane/O₂/N₂ Mixtures: Experimental and Computational Studies, January 2006.
• Scott Jeffrey Volchko: Catalytic Combustion of Methane and Oxygen for Micro-Propulsion Applications, August 2005.
• George Andrew Boyarko: Catalyzed Combustion of Hydrogen-Oxygen in Platinum and Palladium Tubes for Micro-Propulsion Applications, May 2004.
• Kamal Kumar: Emission Characterization for a Port Fuel Injected Spark Ignition Engine, May 2004.
• Jagannath Ramchandra Nanduri: A Computational Study of Structure, Dynamic Response, and Extinction Characteristics of Edge Diffusion Flames, August 2002.
• Hugh Douglas Perkins: Effects of Fuel Distribution on Detonation Tube Performance, May 2002.
• Bai Han: A Computational Study of the Vitiation Effects on Ignition in Two-Dimensional Supersonic Hydrogen/Air Mixing Layer, January 2002.
• Yimin Huang: Extending Dilution Limit During Cold-Start by Reformer Gas Addition in the Intake, January 2001.
• Franco Carmine Frate: A Computational Study of Dry CO/O₂ Opposed-Jet Diffusion Flame and its Flammability Limits, January 2000.