Dr. Phil Ligrani
ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT:
- Eminent Scholar in Propulsion, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 2014-present. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Propulsion Research Center, 5000 Technology Drive, University of Alabama at Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899 USA. TELEPHONE: 1 (256) 824-5173. E-MAIL: pml0006@uah.edu. E-MAIL: p_ligrani@msn.com.
- Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Oliver L. Parks Endowed Chair, 2010-2014. Director of Graduate Programs, 2010-2013. Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, Saint Louis University.
- Donald Schultz Professor of Turbomachinery, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, 2006-2009. Tenured Position. The Donald Schultz Professorship of Turbomachinery is one of several Statutory – Chair Professorships in the Department of Engineering Science. Professorial Fellow at St. Catherine’s College. Director of the Rolls-Royce UTC (University Technology Centre) in Heat Transfer and Aerodynamics.
- Professor, University of Utah, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1992-2006. Tenured Position. Associate Department Chair, TFES Thermal-Fluids and Energy Sciences Division, 2005-2006. Director of Thermal-Fluids Laboratory, 1992-2006.
- Associate Professor, U. S. Naval Postgraduate School, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1984-1992. Tenured Position.
- Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London, 1982-1984.
- Assistant Professor, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (temporary position), 1979-1982.
EDUCATION:
- Ph.D. 1980, Stanford University, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
- M.S.1975, Stanford University, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
- B.S. 1974, University of Texas at Austin, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
RESEARCH AREAS AND EXPERTISE:
(i) Traditional Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics Investigations involving electronics cooling, heat transfer augmentation, drag reduction, turbulent boundary layers, flows in channels with dimpled surfaces, flows in curved channels, elastic turbulence, slot impingement cooling, and macro-scale pumps and pump flows. Also included are aerodynamics investigations with high-speed, compressible flows at transonic and supersonic Mach numbers, including SWBLI – Shock Wave Boundary Layer Interactions. Related projects involve transonic and supersonic experimental testing. Research interests also include experimental diagnostics in high speed flows, and air breathing propulsion.
(ii) Air Breathing Engines – Gas Turbine Heat Transfer, Cooling, and Aerodynamics Losses, including internal cooling, film cooling, impingement cooling, cooling of extremities, aerodynamic performance including aerodynamic losses, and transonic turbine flows and heat transfer. This subject area includes the effects of uses of bio-fuels, synthetic fuels, and renewable energy sources in relation to gas turbines and gas turbine heat transfer and cooling technologies. Note that an important area of turbomachinery research interest involves heat transfer and aerodynamics investigations with high-speed, compressible flows at transonic and supersonic Mach numbers, including linear cascade studies.
(iii) Micro-Fluidics and Millimeter-Scale-Fluidics, including micro-pump flows, and the effects of slip phenomena on gas and liquid flows in micro-scale passage flows with and without surface roughness, including the effects of hydrophobic surfaces and elastic turbulence.
(iv) Experimental Techniques, including development of millimeter-scale multiple-hole pressure probes, subminiature hot-wire anemometry, and infrared thermography.
RESEARCH AREAS AND EXPERTISE:
Ligrani – Current Research Activities
CURRENTLY ACTIVE – RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS:
Ligrani – Currently Active Research Collaborations
GRADUATE STUDENT PRODUCTIVITY:
● As of May 2023, successfully supervised theses and dissertations of 105 graduate students, who have received Diploma Degrees, Master of Science (M.S.) Degrees, Mechanical Engineering (M.E.) Degrees, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degrees.
● 14 successfully supervised Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) dissertations.
● 10 successfully supervised theses and dissertations of women graduate students.
Ligrani – Successfully Supervised UAH Graduate Students
Ligrani – Successfully Supervised UAH Undergraduate Student Theses
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENT DISTINCTIONS:
● 2006-2009. Donald Schultz Professor of Turbomachinery, Statutory – Chair Professorship. Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom.
● 2010-2014. Oliver L. Parks Endowed Chair. Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
● 2014-2019. Eminent Scholar in Propulsion. Endowed Professorship. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Propulsion Research Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● 2019-2024. Eminent Scholar in Propulsion. Endowed Professorship. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Propulsion Research Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● 2010-2012, 2012-2014, 2014-2016, 2016-2018, 2018-2020, 2020-2022. Distinguished Advisory Professor. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea.
● 2019-2022. Guest Professor. School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
SELECTED RECENT ACADEMIC RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS:
● October 2010 to September 2022. Distinguished Advisory Professor, Inje University, South Korea.
● August 2020. 2020 College of Engineering Outstanding Faculty Member Award. University Award, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● August 2020. 2020 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Mentor Award. University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● May 2020. Hermann Oberth Award in recognition of outstanding individual scientific achievement in the field of astronautics and advancement of the aeronautical sciences. AIAA – American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Greater Huntsville Section of the AIAA, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● March 2020. Employee Service Award, Five Years of Service. University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● September 2019 to August 2022. Guest Professor. School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
● June 2019. ASME IGTI Outstanding Service Award. Presented at ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) TURBO EXPO 2019, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
● April 2019. University Distinguished Research Award for Excellence 2019. (University Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement and Scholar Performance Award for 2019). University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● February 2019. Outstanding Senior Faculty Member Award for 2019. College Award, College of Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● August 2018. President’s Council Member, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Appointed by University President Robert Altenkirch.
● August 2017. President’s Council Member, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Appointed by University President Robert Altenkirch.
● January 2017. Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Who’s Who.
● February 2016. Outstanding Mechanical Engineer of the Year Award 2016, ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers, NAS – North Alabama Section, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● December 2015. Certificate of Excellence. Propulsion Research Center. With recognition of the sustained and dedicated efforts of faculty and staff for their roles as mentors, educators, and leaders. Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development (OVPRED), University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
● July 2015. Distinguished Visiting Scholar, School of Energy and Power, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, P. R. China.
● September 2014. Distinguished Visiting Professor, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Beihang University, BUAA – Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, P. R. China.
● October 2013. Distinguished Visiting Professor, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Institute of Turbomachinery, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, P. R. China.
● June 2011. Silver Winner – Annual 26th Educational Advertising Awards, for Brochure – Graduate Program Profile – Saint Louis University – Parks College, Higher Ed Marketing, Higher Education Marketing Report.
● April 2011. Distinguished Lecture Award, Over-Tip Shock Wave Structure and Its Impact on Turbine Blade Tip Heat Transfer Including the Effects of Varying Tip Gap, CEAS Distinguished Lecture Series, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
● March 2003. Invited Review Paper, “Comparison of Heat Transfer Augmentation Techniques,” AIAA Journal, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 337-362.
● May 2001, June 2002, June 2004. Invited Visiting Scholar, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Kiev-57, 252057, Ukraine.
● April 2000-June 2000. Guest Professor, Institut fuer Thermische Stroemungs-maschinen, Universitaet Karlsruhe, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany.
● June 1999-August 1999. AGTSR Faculty Fellowship at General Electric Corp.-Corporate Research and Development. Funded by the SCERDC, South Carolina Energy Research and Development Center.
● June 1995. Professor of the Year Award, presented by undergraduate students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, for exceptional classroom teaching.
● November 1991. NASA Space Act Tech Brief Award, ARC-12228-1, “Development of Subminiature Multi-Sensor Hot-Wire Probes.”
● December 1990. Carl E. and Jessie W. Menneken Faculty Award for Excellence in Scientific Research.
YEARLY PHOTOGRAPHS:
ITEMS – UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE:
Research Magazine ARTICLE 2019
WIND TUNNEL DEVELOPMENT – UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE:
Wind Tunnel – Gas Turbine Research 2018
Research Magazine Article – 2016
Wind Tunnel Student Interview Article – 2016
Building Wind Tunnel is Hands-On Experience
Huntsville Times WIND TUNNEL Newspaper Article
UAH Wind Tunnel Radio Interview
ITEM – SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY: