Research

Research areas and directions

Rocket propulsion*

Hypersonics**

Cyberphysical integration

Complex flow physics

We study the dynamics of complex flows through integrated approaches combining physics-based modeling, high-performance computing and data science, software engineering, control, and companion experiments, with emphasis on rocket propulsion and hypersonics. We are also interested in cyberphysical integration - effectively connecting computers and real-world devices - to assimilate, control, and optimize engineering systems for existing and new applications. For any target system, we highly encourage addressing underlying flow physics; physical intuitions are often very useful for engineering optimization and error diagnostics.

Image credit: *NASA, **purdue.edu

Relevant work

Supersonic and multiphase combustion

(Left) Visualization of the ignited flame in a model combustor.  (Right) Supersonic gaseous methane-oxygen jet ignited by a focused laser. Yellow region indicates the reaction zone.

Physics, data-centric analysis, and real-time feedback control of complex flows

Super high-speed (50 ns exposure) image of cloud cavitation and its numerical counterpart (Maeda and Colonius)

Real-time feedback control of ultrasound-induced cavitation

Task-based framework for multidisciplinary analysis on supercomputers

Multi-scale modeling and numerical methods for compressible multi-component flows

Schematic of multiscale modeling of cloud cavitation: (From the left) ultrasound transducer, bubble cloud, sub-grid scale bubbles, bubble interface resolved on fine grids. 

Turbulent multiphase flows

Horizontal clustering of bubbles near the wall in a turbulent channel flow. (Maeda et al)

Thermo-hydrodynamics of real fluids and complex flows

Fine-scale shear-layer entertainment and mixing of transcritical nitrogen

Computer-integrated medical systems and devices

Computed tomography (CT)-based large-scale simulation of ultrasound propagation in a human body. (Maeda)

Droplet-based microfluidic device

Micro particles carrying Jurkat cells and magnetic colloids in distinct compartments. (Maeda et al)