FACULTY RESEARCH PROFILES

Research Interests:
Two-phase flow modeling, CFD and experiments, Nanofluids, Measurement s and Molecular Dynamics modeling in micro channel flows, Natural and Mixed Con vection heat transfer, Turbulence

Degrees:

• Ph.D. Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 1983
• M.S.    Georgia Institute of Technology, Aerospace Engineering, 1978
• B.Tech Madras Institute of Technology, Aeronautical Engineering, 1976
• B.S.      University of Madras, Mathematics, 1973

Recent Publications:

• D. Milanova and R. Kumar, “Heat Transfer Behavior of Silica Nanoparticles in Pool Boiling Experiment,” J. Heat Transfer, 130, 042401-02, 2008.
• E.Y. Tafti, R. Kumar and J. Cho, “Effect of Laminar Velocity Profile Variation on Mixing in Microfluidic Devices-The Sigma Micromixer,” in print, Applied Physics Letters, 2008.
• Mishra, N. Hasan, S. Sanghi and R. Kumar, “Two-Dimensional Buoyancy Driven Thermal Mixing in a Horizontally Partitioned Adiabatic Enclosure,” in print, Physics of Fluids, 2008.
• Gupta and R. Kumar, “Lattice Boltzmann Simulation to Study Multiple Bubble Dynamics,” in print, Int J Heat Mass Transfer, 2008.
• D. Milanova and R. Kumar, “Dispersion and Surface Characteristics of Nano-Silica Suspensions,” in print, Annals of NY Academy of Sciences, 2008.
• Gupta and R. Kumar, “Role of Brownian motion on the thermal conductivity enhancement of nanofluids,” Applied Physics Letters, 91, 223102, 2007.
• Gupta and R. Kumar, “Three-Dimensional Turbulent Swirling Flow in a Cylinder: Experiments and Computations,” International J Heat and Fluid Flow, Vol. 28, 249-261, 2007.
• R. Kumar, A. Sleiti, J. Kapat, “Unsteady Laminar Buoyant Flow Through Rectangular Vents in Large Enclosures,” J. Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, 20, No. 2, pp. 276-284, 2006.
• D. Milanova and R. Kumar, “Role of Ions in Pool Boiling Heat Transfer of Pure and Silica Nanofluids,” Applied Physics Letters, 87, p. 233107, 2005.
• D. Milanova and R. Kumar, “Functionalized Single Walled and Double Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Thermal Enhancement,” submitted to Applied Physics Letters.
• R. Kumar, “Two-Phase flow microstructures in thin geometries: Multi-field modeling,” Ch. 5 in Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Microstructures and Nanostructures, Eds. Faghri and Sunden, WIT Press, pp. 173-224.

Scientific and Professional Societies:

• Chairman, ASME K-19 Committee, Heat Transfer in Environmental Systems (1997-2000); Vice-Chair (1995-1997); Member since 1985.
•  ASME Long Range Planning and Development Committee, Member, 2000 - present.
• ASME Technical Correspondent to Basic Engineering Group (1996 - 1999)

Honors and Awards:

• Leadership Award, Outstanding Achievement in Two-Phase Flow Experimental and Model Development, Lockheed, 1998
• Byars Prize for Teaching Excellence in Engineering Mechanics, College of Engineering, Clemson University, 1986