About

The Computational Fluid Dynamics and Supersonic Combustion Research Laboratory is dedicated to the development and application of advanced numerical CFD methods to solve fundamental fluid dynamics problems that push the boundaries of high Mach and Reynolds numbers, turbulence, and rapid chemical reactions. 

A major focus of our work is to better understand the detonation phenomenon, a supersonic combustion wave that is among one of the most physically complex problems to solve, and often difficult to predict.  We also focus our research efforts on better understanding the roles of turbulence of fundamental flows, through numerical simulation. 

Finally, our group is also working on combustion model development, specifically for compressible or supersonic flows.  Our lab has access to several in-house and open-source CFD software codes, and the necessary code development tools to process our data.  Finally, our group has access to the CWRU High Performance Computing (HPC) facility, which we frequently use for the most demanding, large-scale simulations.

Meet our Team

PhD Students

Mohnish Peswani

Email: mgp43@case.edu

Mohnish Peswani is a second-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering. His doctoral research interests focus on studying the initiation of powerful explosions in industries due to the acceleration of flames. The overarching objective of his work is to advance fundamental understanding of the deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) phenomenon and establish conditions for DDT induced explosions at industrial scales which are currently lacking. His work thus far had been dedicated to developing accurate and efficient numerical modelling strategies to better describe the evolving fluid dynamics and thermodynamics associated with detonation wave propagation.

Robert Thacker

Email: rpt20@case.edu

Robert Thacker received his degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State (BS) and the Florida Institute of Technology (MS). He’s currently pursuing his PhD in the same field at Case Western with a focus in pressure gain rocket combustion. He works full time as a NASA engineer at the Glenn Research Center and conducts research in advanced propulsion systems, future aviation combustion investment strategies, and fundamental research in rocketry pressure gain combustion. He worked for the Naval Air Systems Command as a civil servant in Propulsion and Power where he supported legacy gas turbine engine improvements and development of variable cycle engines. In his free time he plays as a fiddler with his friends, star gazes as an amateur astronomer, and attends weekly Bible studies at his church. His zeal for the aerospace field brings a fun dynamic to the team and he’s driven to see future advancement in space propulsion.

Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith is a first-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering. He received his MS from Miami University where he studied thermal panel buckling under hypersonic conditions. Joshua has spent the past few years in industry performing thermal analysis for various mechanical systems. His current research interests include supersonic flow and combustion. Outside of engineering, Joshua enjoys disc golfing, biking, and playing guitar.

MA Students

Grace Floring

Email: gnf5@case.edu

Grace is a fourth year Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student in the BS/MS program. Originally from Delaware, OH, Grace has had an interest in science since entering her first science fair in fifth grade. After taking the fluid mechanics course, Grace developed an interest in CFDs and is looking forward to completing her master’s thesis in this lab studying the deflagration-to-detonation transition. Outside of research, Grace is on the executive board for CWRU’s chapter of Society of Women Engineers and a member of Greek Life. She hopes to pursue a career in space travel and advancing aerospace technologies.

Stephen (Steve) Timothy

Email: sct55@case.edu

Stephen Timothy is a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student in the BS/MS program from Naperville, IL. A car enthusiast since a young age, Stephen’s passion for engineering has been rooted in his lifelong enthusiasm for automotive performance, drawing him to the CWRU BAJA SAE team, where he supports the team by machining components. Stephen’s education at CWRU has piqued his interest in data science and analytics, where he is involved in the development, validation, and demonstration of the Energy Diagnostics Investigator for Efficiency Savings (EDIFES) tool used in virtual energy audits through the Department of Defense’s Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). Aside from academia, Stephen enjoys spending time with friends & family, playing intramural sports, and learning new instruments (the ukulele is his latest endeavor).

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Erol Balkovic

Email: exb367@case.edu

Erol Balkovic is a third-year engineering physics student originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. From an overarching interest in the use of nuclear fusion for power generation and associated plasma physics, at Case Erol got interested in the highly-related topic of fluid behavior. Combining his knowledge in physics and computation, Erol is now working on research related to type Ia supernovae occurring in white dwarfs and the involved detonation process driven by thermonuclear combustion, using advanced CFD codes. In addition, Erol is involved in the CWRUbotix robotics club where he works on mechanical-robotic systems and was a member of Dr. Sankaran’s Microplasma group, where he did research related to atmospheric-pressure plasma jets. In his free time, Erol enjoys reading science fiction, playing tennis, and loves traveling.

Sam Faulk

Email: sdf33@case.edu

Sam Faulk is a fourth-year Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering student from Ohio. He developed a passion for engineering by working with his hands, such as fixing an old stereo system or by working on the engine of his car. During his education at Case Western Reserve University, Sam developed his interest in gas dynamics, where he currently assists with research, and flight design, which he plans on participating in after graduation. In his fraternity, he served as secretary and treasurer, where he learned to manage events and finances. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, and exercising.

Louis Pete

Louis is a fourth-year Mechanical & Aerospace Engineer from Phoenix, Arizona. At an early age, Louis was fascinated with how things like bikes, cars, and airplanes moved and worked. This lead to him being invested in science and creative thinking while learning more about the world around him. Louis' interest in engineering originated from childhood projects, science competitions, and airplane museums. Over the course of his education at Case Western Reserve University, Louis has taken an interest in aircraft design and aero/gas dynamics. Beyond the academic focus, Louis is involved with the CWRU NSBE Chapter as acting Secretary Chair for the past three years. In his spare time, Louis enjoys learning more about aircraft history/design, learning about new technologies, watching movies, going on morning runs with his dog, and spending time with family.

Tinh Vo

Email: tdv10@case.edu

Tinh Vo is a senior undergraduate Mechanical Engineering major from Vietnam. He started his undergraduate focusing on mechanical design with direct application to industry. He did co-ops at Bendix, an automotive company where he worked on designing and prototyping testing fixtures, and at Innovative Delta Technology, a biomedical company where he performed destructive testing and finite-element stress analysis on spinal implants. He is transitioning to a more academic career with interest in numerical simulation of continuous media. He is minoring in German and hopes to continue his studies with a Masters in Germany. Outside of class Tinh is a Jazz fan and plays the saxophone, and often plays soccer.

Sebastian Abisleiman

Email:  ssa101@case.edu

Sebastian Abisleiman is a fourth-year student in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. His passion for engineering began in his home state of Florida where he designed and launched high-power rockets. At Case Western Reserve University, his interest in engineering grew as he is active with the Case Rocket Team designing and machining components. Sebastian is interested in studying Fluid Mechanics and Combustion, and he is currently pursuing research in simulation of rotating detonation engines. In his free time, Sebastian enjoys spending time with family, running, and learning new things.