Research Interests:
Two-phase flow and Heat Transfer, Laser-based optics measurements, Nanofluids, Flow focusing in microchannels, Lattice Boltzmann methods, CFD.
Degrees:
Ph.D. Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 1983
M.S. Georgia Institute of Technology, Aerospace Engineering, 1978
B.Tech Madras Institute of Technology, Aeronautical Engineering, 1976
B.S. University of Madras, Mathematics, 1973
Recent Publications:
D. Milanova and R. Kumar, “Heat Transfer Behavior of Silica Nanoparticles in Pool Boiling Experiment,” J. Heat Transfer, 130, 042401-02, 2008.
E.Y. Tafti, R. Kumar and J. Cho, “Effect of Laminar Velocity Profile Variation on Mixing in Microfluidic Devices-The Sigma Micromixer,” in print, Applied Physics Letters, 2008.
Mishra, N. Hasan, S. Sanghi and R. Kumar, “Two-Dimensional Buoyancy Driven Thermal Mixing in a Horizontally Partitioned Adiabatic Enclosure,” in print, Physics of Fluids, 2008.
Gupta and R. Kumar, “Lattice Boltzmann Simulation to Study Multiple Bubble Dynamics,” in print, Int J Heat Mass Transfer, 2008.
D. Milanova and R. Kumar, “Dispersion and Surface Characteristics of Nano-Silica Suspensions,” in print, Annals of NY Academy of Sciences, 2008.
Gupta and R. Kumar, “Role of Brownian motion on the thermal conductivity enhancement of nanofluids,” Applied Physics Letters, 91, 223102, 2007.
Gupta and R. Kumar, “Three-Dimensional Turbulent Swirling Flow in a Cylinder: Experiments and Computations,” International J Heat and Fluid Flow, Vol. 28, 249-261, 2007.
R. Kumar, A. Sleiti, J. Kapat, “Unsteady Laminar Buoyant Flow Through Rectangular Vents in Large Enclosures,” J. Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, 20, No. 2, pp. 276-284, 2006.
D. Milanova and R. Kumar, “Role of Ions in Pool Boiling Heat Transfer of Pure and Silica Nanofluids,” Applied Physics Letters, 87, p. 233107, 2005.
D. Milanova and R. Kumar, “Functionalized Single Walled and Double Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Thermal Enhancement,” submitted to Applied Physics Letters.
R. Kumar, “Two-Phase flow microstructures in thin geometries: Multi-field modeling,” Ch. 5 in Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Microstructures and Nanostructures, Eds. Faghri and Sunden, WIT Press, pp. 173-224.
Scientific and Professional Societies:
Chairman, ASME K-19 Committee, Heat Transfer in Environmental Systems (1997-2000); Vice-Chair (1995-1997); Member since 1985.
ASME Long Range Planning and Development Committee, Member, 2000 - present.
ASME Technical Correspondent to Basic Engineering Group (1996 - 1999)
Honors and Awards:
Leadership Award, Outstanding Achievement in Two-Phase Flow Experimental and Model Development, Lockheed, 1998
Byars Prize for Teaching Excellence in Engineering Mechanics, College of Engineering, Clemson University, 1986
