Advancing Diagnostics and Modeling of Complex Flow Systems in Aero-Mechanical Applications

Abstract: To enhance the efficiency, power, sustainability, and safety of aero-mechanical devices and propulsion systems, it is imperative to advance the precision and reliability of flow diagnostics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools. Despite extensive research, turbulent and reacting flow systems, distinguished by their inherent complexity, remain not fully understood. This underscores the critical need for more economical and practical simulation and diagnostic tools to predict and measure these systems effectively.  

High-fidelity CFD methods, such as direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES), are expected to remain cost-prohibitive for routine industrial applications in the foreseeable future. Conversely, Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations, though more feasible, struggle with well-documented limitations in accurately capturing various flow phenomena, including surface roughness, pressure gradients, surface curvature, flow separation, and large-scale unsteadiness. The increasing reliance on CFD for high-stakes decision-making in the industry accentuates the urgent need for improved models. Developing such models necessitates acquiring precise flow data through advanced diagnostics. However, achieving accurate non-intrusive measurements in harsh reacting and turbulent environments presents significant challenges, making the enhancement of diagnostic methods another central focus of fluid dynamics research. By advancing both simulations and diagnostics, we can generate critical data to deepen our understanding of complex flow physics and optimize aero-mechanical systems.  

In this presentation, Dr. Aldo Gargiulo will discuss his doctoral and postdoctoral research contributions and outline future directions for his work. During his doctoral studies at Virginia Tech, Dr. Gargiulo focused on advancing the understanding and modeling of incompressible non-equilibrium turbulent boundary layers, which are prevalent in engineering applications and significantly influence aerodynamic performance. His research involved acquiring a comprehensive stereo particle image velocimetry (PIV) dataset of three-dimensional boundary layers to assess the assumptions underlying fundamental turbulent constitutive relations. At the University of Virginia, under the guidance of Dr. Chloe Dedic in the Reacting Flow Laboratory, Dr. Gargiulo's current research is dedicated to enhancing the understanding and diagnostics of reactive flow systems. His ongoing projects, among others, include the investigation of liquid-fueled detonations and the extinction behavior of non-premixed flames using advanced non-intrusive laser diagnostic techniques, such as Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS). 

Bio: Dr. Aldo Gargiulo was born in Zurich, Switzerland. He pursued his undergraduate and graduate studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in mechanical engineering. He continued his academic journey at Virginia Tech, completing a PhD in aerospace engineering under the supervision of Dr. K. Todd Lowe and Dr. Christopher J. Roy. His doctoral research focused on enhancing the understanding and modeling of non-equilibrium turbulent boundary layers.  

Dr. Gargiulo is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Virginia (UVA), working under the guidance of Dr. Chloe Dedic at the Reacting Flow Laboratory (RFL). At UVA, he is working on advancing the understanding of reacting flow systems and developing corresponding diagnostic techniques. 

Host: Chloe Dedic

Organizer: Sheridan Kearns