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C Thomas Avedisian

Professor

Primary Research Areas

  • combustion and pollution
  • heat and mass transfer
  • multiphase and granular flows

Graduate Fields

Research Focus

  • droplet combustion
  • liquid jet impingement with noncircular hydraulic jumps
  • microboiling
  • photothermal deflection spectroscopy
  • film boiling with chemical reaction

We are pursuing research that cuts across a variety of disciplines, including heat transfer, energy systems, fluid mechanics and materials. Problems tend to be pursued from an experimental (as contrasted to an entirely computational or theoretical) approach.

Educational Background

  • Ph.D. 1980 - Princeton University, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • M.A. 1977 - Princeton University, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • S.M. 1974 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering
  • B.S. 1972 - Tufts University (summa cum laude), Mechanical Engineering

Research Grants

  • FILM BOILING WITH CHEMICAL REACTION: CATALYTIC DECOMPOSITION AND HYDROGEN IN A SELF-ASSEMBLED REACTOR
  • COMBUSTION OF JET FUEL (JP8) AND SURROGATE FUEL DROPLETS IN MICROGRAVITY
  • DEVELOPMENT OF A HELICOPTER-LAUNCHED UAV PLATFORM

Selected Publications

PubMed Listings

Cavicchi, R.E. and Avedisian, C.T. Bubble nucleation and growth anomaly for a hydrophilic microheater attributed to metastable nanobubbles, Physical Review Letters, 98, 124501 (2007).

Avedisian, C.T., Cavicchi, R.E., McEuen, P.L. and Zhou, Z. Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment: The Role of Heat Transfer, Interdisciplinary Transport Phenomena V: Fluid, Thermal, Materials and Space Sciences, Bansko, Bulgeria, October 14-19, (2007).  

Bae, J.H. and Avedisian, C.T. Experimental study of the effect of helium/nitrogen concentration and initial droplet diameter on nonane droplet combustion with minimal convection, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 31, 2157-2164 (2007).

Avedisian, C.T., Cavicchi, R.E. and Tarlov, M.J. New technique for visualizing microboiling phenomena and its appcliation to water pulse heated by a thin metal film, Review of Scientific Instruments, 77, 063706 (2006).

Urban, B.J., Avedisian, C.T. and Tsang, W. The film boiling reactor: a new environment for chemical processing, AIChE J., 52, 2582-2595 (2006).

Presser, C. and Avedisian, C.T. Transport of high boiling point fire suppressants in a droplet-laden homogeneous turbulent flow past a cylinder,  Atomization and Sprays, 16, 627-656 (2006).

Yoon, S.S., DesJardin, P.E., Presser, C., Hewson, J.C. and Avedisian, C.T. Numerical modeling and experimental measurements of water spray impact and transport over a cylinder, International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 32, 132-157 (2006).

Bae, J.H. and Avedisian, C.T. High-pressure combustion of submillimeter-sized nonane droplets in a low convection environment, Combustion and Flame, 145, 607-620 (2006).