Thesis research focuses on the development and application of computational methods for solving multiphase fluid-structure interaction problems--- Improved significantly the computational efficiency of challenging multi-material flow simulations (37 - 80X speedup), by exploiting special properties of governing equations and recycling previous solutions--- Tested the speedup effect of the new computational method using challenging examples including underwater explosion, laser-induced cavitation, and hypervelocity impact--- Investigated numerically the multiphase fluid-structure interaction phenomena in near-field underwater explosions--- Elucidated the role of bubble dynamics in the structure’s different failure behaviors--- Revealed the transition mechanism between these behaviors--- Contributed to research projects involving computational method development and modeling of laser-induced cavitation and plasma formation caused by hypervelocity impact--- Research is funded by Office of Naval Research (ONR) and National Science Foundation (NSF)

Project: Flutter Analysis of an Experimental Wing for Certification of Accelerometer Setup--- Verified the inappropriateness of placing accelerometer at an experimental wing tip’s trailing edge through theoretical and computational analysis--- Predicted that a small added mass (e.g., the accelerometer) at the location can decrease flutter speed dramatically, thus interfere with the measurement--- Established the theoretical model of aeroelastic system using Hamilton’s principle, Rayleigh-Ritz method, and subsonic potential flow aerodynamics theoryProject: Aeroelastic Instabilities of Turbomachinery Blades Due to Unsteady Aerodynamics--- Performed unsteady aerodynamic analysis of a modern multistage compressor using a frequency-domain, in-house Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code based on Harmonic Balance Method (HBM)--- Discovered that neighboring stages significantly decrease the aerodynamic damping on rotor blades, thus increase the risk of aeroelastic instability

Project: Numerical Investigation of Turbulent Open Channel Flow around Spur Dikes--- Investigated numerically the 3D flow field using the Scale-Adaptive Simulation (SAS) turbulence model--- Analyzed the turbulent vortex structures and their effect on channel bed erosion

Project: Finite Element Program Development for Cracked Beams--- Created a finite element computer code for the analysis of cracked beams under impact loads--- The code served as an infrastructure for the development of structural damage identification methods