Ahmad (Adam) Vakili

Ahmad Vakili

Ahmad Vakili

Adjunct Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Contact:

The Unversity of Tennessee Space Institute
Tullahoma, TN 37388-9700

Phone: (931) 393-7483
Email: avakili@utsi.edu

Education

  • Ph. D. Engineering (Mechanical/Aerospace) 1978, The University of Tennessee Knoxville.
  • M. S. Engineering (Mechanical/Aerospace) 1976, The University of Tennessee Knoxville.
  • Non-degree 1973-1974, Rhein.-Westf. Technische Hochschule; RWTH Aachen, Germany. Scholarship from Deutscher Academischer Austauschdienst
  • B.S. General Engineering (Mechanical and Chemical Engineering) 1972, Abadan Institute of
    Technology, Abadan, Iran.

Professional / Research Experience

Chief Manager: FICS, LLC (Flow Integration and Control Systems LLC)
Professor: Mechanical and Aerospace, and Bio-Eng. (MABE), The University of Tennessee/UTSI
08/11-12/16 President/Chief Manager: Center for Advanced Scientific Support and Engineering
Technology (ASSET.TN), a non-profit organization established by UT and UTRF
07/09- 12/16 Director Tech. Development and Transfer, UTSI
08/08-07/09 Assist. VP Research (interim), UTSI

Vakili is a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Tennessee Space Institute, on phased retirement. Vakili has over 35 years of experience in theoretical and applied research in the aerospace and mechanical engineering related fields. He has taught a number of courses at the undergraduate and mainly at a graduate level in the related subject areas. He has worked with large industries and small companies and has been successful in helping improve performances of various existing industrial processes and or help design and develop new processes. Vakili helped develop a patented high-speed carbon fiber spinning technology. He has developed expertise in fiber production and processing technologies and carbon-based composite materials development. Vakili’s research areas of interest are in areas of applied, theoretical and experimental simulations of aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, vortex dominated flows, flow structure interactions, flow control, instrumentation, combustion and carbon fibers, and composite materials manufacturing technologies. His specific research experience areas include fundamentals of flow control, flow control applied to mixing and combustion control and industrial flow technologies. He has served as the principal investigator or co-investigator of numerous research projects, grants or contracts. He has published over 160 technical papers and reports and has a number of patents awarded and a number of patent applications in process. He has received numerous honors and awards, served on review panels, and has been a reviewer for national and international journals and scientific funding organizations. Vakili has transitioned (starting August 2016) to spend the majority of his time as the Chief Manager of Flow Integration and Control Systems, (FICS, LLC), an innovations development and high technology solutions company.

Recent Publications

Selected Recent/Key Publications:

  1. “An Investigation of Modified Cavity Flow Generated Supersonic Mixing”; Mahdi Boudaghi; Thomas Fetterhoff; Ahmad (Adam) Vakili; Abraham Meganathan. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN, USA. AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition 2018
  2. “Development of a Robust, Multi-Level, Flow-Control Actuator Part 2: Computational Studies Author(s): Brian Binkley; Ahmad (Adam) Vakili; The University of Tennessee, Tullahoma, Tullahoma, TN, USA. AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition 2018.
  3. “Development of a Robust, Multi-Level, Flow-Control Actuator Part 1”: Experimental Studies. Brian Binkley; Ahmad (Adam) Vakili; The University of Tennessee, Tullahoma, Tullahoma, TN, USA. AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition 2018.
  4. Z. Yue, C. Liu, A. Vakili, Meltblown solvated mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers: Fiber evolution and characteristics, C-J. Carbon Research 2017, 3, 26-39, doi:10.3390/c3030026.
  5. Z. Yue, A. Vakili, J. Wang, Activated carbon fibers from meltblown isotropic pitch fiber webs for vapor phase adsorption of volatile organic compounds, Chem. Eng. J. 2017, 330, 183-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.07.150
  6. Z. Yue, A. Vakili, Activated carbon-carbon composites made of pitch-based carbon fibers and phenolic resin for use of adsorbents, J. Mater. Sci. 2017, 52(21), 12913-12921. DOI 10.1007/s10853-017-1389-7
  7. Z. Yue, A. Vakili, O. Hosseinaei, D. P. Harper, Lignin-based Carbon Fibers: Accelerated Stabilization of Lignin Fibers in Presence of Hydrogen Chloride, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2017. 134, 45507. DOI: 10.1002/app.45507.
  8. Z. Yue, A. Vakili, M.P Duran, Surface treatments of solvated mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers. J. Mater. Sci. 2017. 52:10250-10260. DOI: 10.1007/s10853-017-1197-0.
  9. Z. Yue, C. Liu, A. Vakili, Solvated mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers: thermal-oxidative stabilization of the spun fiber. J. Mater. Sci. 2017. 52, 8176–8187. DOI 10.1007/s10853-017-1024-7.
  10. “Cavity Flow Control Experiments and Simulations”, 2014 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 548 012068 (http://iopscience.iop.org/1742-6596/548/1/012068)
  11. “Cavity Flow Control Experiments and Simulations”, A.D. Vakilia, T.P. Fetterhoff a , W.L. Fowler a, R.D. Loewena , A.J. Meganathanb , a The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN, b ESI-USA, Inc. Huntsville, AL, ICSLS-22
  12. “Numerical Modeling of an Aspirated Total Temperature Probe”, R. Rhodes, T. Moeller*, A. J. Meganathan, and A. D. Vakili, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN 37388, USA ISSN 0020_4412, Instruments and Experimental Techniques, 2014, Vol. 57, No. 3, pp. 361–368. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2014.
  13. “An Experimental Investigation of Supersonic Cavity Flow Control with Vertical Cylinders”, Carolyn L. Thiemann, Garrett J. Milne, and Ahmad D. Vakili, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN, AIAA – 2013-3173.
  14. “Low cost carbon fiber technology development for carbon fiber composite applications” Vakili A, Yue Z., FTA Report No. 0011, April 2012
  15. “An Experimental Investigation of 2-D Cylinders Affecting Supersonic Cavity Flow” Greg A. Givogue, William L. Fowler†, and Ahmad D. Vakili‡ The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN, AIAA – 2011-3962.
  16. “Characteristics of melt-blow spun, solvated mesophase pitch based carbon fiber and typical composites” Z. Yue, A. Vakili and C. Liu, Carbon 2010, July 11-16, 2010, Clemson University.
  17. “Influence of fiber surface treatments on low-cost carbon fiber composites”, Vakili A, Yue ZR and Matthew DP., ICCE-17 proceedings, Page 1061, 17th International Conference on Composites or Nano Engineering, July 26-August 1, 2009. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
  18. “Fabrication of low-cost composites using roving-like mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers”, Yue ZR, Matthew DP, Vakili A, ICCE-17 proceedings, Page 1171, 17th International Conference on Composites or Nano Engineering, July 26-August 1, 2009. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
  19. “Pitch Based Carbon Fiber Processing and Composites” Ahmad Vakili, Zhongren Yue, Youqing Fei, Heather Cochran, Lee Allen and Mathew Duran, SAMPE Conference Paper C-139, Cincinnati, OH, Oct. 2007. Page 3 of 5
  20. “Structure of Mesophase Pitch-Based Carbon Fibers Produced via Melt Blow-Spinning”, Youqing Fei, Abraham Meganathan and Ahmad Vakili, Carbon Conference, 2007
  21. “Low Cost Mesophase Pitch based Carbon Fiber”, Presented an invited poster paper on TANCON 2006, Knoxville, TN.
  22. “Characteristics of Compressible Jets Passing Through Axisymmetric Cavities”, Abraham J. Meganathan, ESI US R&D, Inc., and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA-2008-0387
  23. “LES Simulations of Three Dimensional Cavity Flow Field and Comparison with Experiments”, Abraham J Meganathan and Sekhar Radhakrishnan, ESI US R&D, Inc. and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA-2008-0055
  24. “A Parametric Study of Incompressible Axisymmetric Internal Cavity Flows”, Jeremy D. Smith, Lee C. Wendell, Abraham J. Meganathan and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA-2007-1286
  25. “Advanced Labyrinth Seals for Steam Turbine Generators,” A. Vakili, A. Meganathan, S. Ayyalasomayajula (UTSI), Stephen Hesler (EPRI), and Lewis Shuster (Reliant Resources), GT2006-91263, ASME Turbo Expo 2006: Power for Land, Sea and Air, Barcelona, Spain, 2006.
  26. “Effect of Exit Geometry on the Near Field Growth of Axisymmetric Jets” Abraham J. Meganathan and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA 2006-0311
  27. “Characteristics of Compressible Jets Passing Through Axisymmetric Cavities”, Abraham J. Meganathan, ESI US R&D, Inc., and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA-2008-0387
  28. “LES Simulations of Three Dimensional Cavity Flow Field and Comparison with Experiments”, Abraham J Meganathan and Sekhar Radhakrishnan, ESI US R&D, Inc. and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA-2008-0055
  29. “PITCH BASED CARBON FIBER PROCESSING AND COMPOSITES” Ahmad Vakili, Zhongren Yue, Youqing Fei, Heather Cochran, Lee Allen and Mathew Duran, SAMPE Conference Paper C-139, Cincinnati, OH, Oct. 2007
  30. “Structure of Mesophase Pitch-based Carbon Fibers Produced via Melt Blow-Spinning”,
  31. Youqing Fei, Abraham Meganathan and Ahmad Vakili, Carbon 2007
  32. “A Parametric Study of Incompressible Axisymmetric Internal Cavity Flows”, Jeremy D. Smith, Lee C. Wendell, Abraham J. Meganathan and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA-2007-1286
  33. “Advanced Labyrinth Seals for Steam Turbine Generators,” A. Vakili, A. Meganathan, S. Ayyalasomayajula (UTSI), Stephen Hesler (EPRI), and Lewis Shuster (Reliant Resources), GT2006-91263, ASME Turbo Expo 2006: Power for Land, Sea and Air, Barcelona, Spain, 2006.
  34. “Effect of Exit Geometry on the Near Field Growth of Axisymmetric Jets” Abraham J. Meganathan and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA 2006-0311
  35. 35. “An Experimental Study of Acoustic and Flow Characteristics of Hole Tones”, Abraham J. Meganathan and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA 2006-1015.
  36. “Technology Investigation for Reducing Effects of Model and Support System Dynamics on Wind Tunnel Aerodynamic Data”, Ahmad D. Vakili, Kristi Holland and James Rossillon, Final Report Part I, April 2006
  37. “Technology Investigation for Reducing Effects of Model and Support System Dynamics on Wind Tunnel Aerodynamic Data”, Ahmad D. Vakili and James Rossillon, Final Report Part II, April 2006
  38. “An Experimental and Numerical Study of Labyrinth Seal Flow,” A.D. Vakili, A.J. Meganathan, M. A. Michaud, S. Radhakrishnan, The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Paper no.GT2005-68224, Proceedings of ASME Power for Land, Sea and Air, June 2005.
  39. “Advanced Steam Labyrinth Seal Design,” Vakili, A. D., Phase1: Initial Concept Evaluation, EPRI Product ID 1011932 Final Report, March 2005.
  40. “A New Honeycomb for Low Isotropic Turbulence,” Vakili, A., and Elder, T., AIAA-2003-3880, 33rd Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit, Orlando, FL, June 23-26, 2003. Page 4 of 5
  41. “An Experimental Study Of Labyrinth Seal Flow,” Mike Michaud, Ahmad Vakili and Abraham Meganathan, (UTSI), and Robert Zielke (Tennessee Valley Authority), Lewis Shuster (Reliant Energy, formerly at TVA), and James Terrell (TVA), IJPGC2003-40097, Proceedings of IJPGC, 2003 International Joint Power Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, June 16-19, 2003.
  42. “Upstream Mass Injection Effects on Cavity Flow Oscillations” (PIV measurements and numerical simulations), Abraham J. Meganathan, and A. D. Vakili, AIAA 2003-0224, Jan 2003.
  43. “Unsteady Vortex Breakdown Behaviour over a Pitching-Rolling 70o Delta Wing,” H.J. Kowal and A.D. Vakili, Canadian Astronautics and Space Journal, Vol. 46, No. 1, March 2000.
  44. “An Experimental Study of Open Cavity Flows at Low Subsonic Speeds,” Abraham J. Meganathan and A. D. Vakili, AIAA 2002-0280, Jan 2002
  45. “Open Cavity Flow at Subsonic Speeds-Comparison of Numerical Simulations with Experiments,” Radhakrishnan, S. R., A. J. Meganathan and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA 2002-0571, Jan 2002.
  46. “An Experimental Study of Labyrinth Seals in Steam Turbines,” Michael Michaud, A. D. Vakili and A. J. Meganathan, May 2001, Final Report for TVA
  47. “Review of Acoustic Measurement Techniques in Wind Tunnels (Invited),” A. D. Vakili and S. Radhakrishnan, 21st AIAA Advanced Measurement Technology and Ground Testing Conference, June 2000.
  48. “Unsteady Vortex Breakdown Behavior over a Pitching-Rolling 70o Delta Wing,” H.J. Kowal and A.D. Vakili, Canadian Astronautics and Space Journal, Vol. 46, No. 1, March 2000.
  49. “Acoustic Measurements and Background Noise Separation in Wind Tunnels,” Sekhar Radhakrishnan and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA-1999-1990, Proceedings of the 5th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustic Conference, 1999.
  50. “Acoustic Measurements and Background Noise Separation in Wind Tunnels,” Sekhar Radhakrishnan and Ahmad D. Vakili, AIAA paper 99-1990, Proceedings of the 5th AIAA/CEAS aeroacoustic Conference. 1999.
  51. “Dynamics of vortex rings in cross-flow,” Y.K. Chang and A.D. Vakili, Phys. Fluids 7 (7), July 1995, pp.1583-1597.
  52. “Active Control of Cavity Aeroacoustics,” A.D. Vakili, R. Wolfe, and P. Nagle, Proceedings of First Joint CEAS/AIAA Aeroacoustics Conference, June 12-15, 1995, Munich, Germany.
  53. “Supersonic Mixing Enhancement Using Pulsed Transverse Fuel Jets,” A.D. Vakili, Y.K. Chang, J.M. Wu, Proceedings of the 7th ONR Propulsion Meeting 1994. August 29-31, 1994, Ed. G.D. Roy and P. Givi.
  54. “Control of Cavity Flow by Upstream Mass Injection,” A.D. Vakili and C. Gauthier, AIAA Journal Aircraft Vol. 31, No. 1, Jan. Feb. 1994.
  55. “Multimedia Lab for Fluid Mechanics,” A.D. Vakili, Proceedings: Interactive Multimedia ’93, pp. 63-67, sponsored by Society for Applied Learning Technology.
  56. “Fluid Mechanics of Vortex Rings Generation and Motion in a Fluid,” Ahmad Vakili et al., Pacific International Conference (PICAST’l) on Aerospace Science and Technology Conference proceedings Vol. II, pp. 980-987, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Rep. of China, Dec. 6-9, 1993.
  57. “Effect of Upstream Mass Injection Pattern on Cavity Flow Aeroacoustics,” Ahmad Vakili, G. C. Cooper and D. E. Schatt, Experimental Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Volume 2, pp. 1157-1164. 1993, Editors: M.D. Kelleher, R.K. Shah, K.R. Sreenivason, Y. Joshi.
  58. “A New Belt Skin Friction Balance,” A.D. Vakili, J. Experiments in Fluids 12, 40-406, 1992.
  59. “Review of the Physics of Enhancing Vortex Lift by Unsteady Excitation,” J.Z. Wu, A.D. Vakili, J.M. Wu, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 73-131, Progress in Aerospace Sciences, Editor A. D. Young, 1991. Page 5 of 5
  60. “Pulsed Jets In Cross–Flow,” A.D. Vakili, J.M. Wu, Y.K. Chang, The University of Tennessee Space Institute, and F. M. Yu, Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. International Symposium on Nonsteady Fluid Dynamics, FED-Vol. 92, pp. 465-475, edited by: J. A. Miller and D. P. Telionis, June 1990.
  61. “Preliminary Study of Nonlinear Flow Over Traveling Wavy Wall,” J.M. Wu, J.Z. Wu, C.J. Wu, A.D. Vakili, The University of Tennessee Space Institute, International Symposium on Nonsteady Fluid Dynamics, FED-Vol. 92, pp. 359-368,edited by: J.A. Miller and D.P. Telionis, June 1990.
  62. “Investigation of the Interacting Flow of Nonsymmetric Jets in Cross Flow,” J.M. Wu, A.D. Vakili, F.M. Yu, AIAA Journal, Vol. 26, Number 8, August 1988.
  63. “Shear Flow Control Applied to Suppress Cavity Oscillations and Improve Store Separation,” A.D. Vakili, J.M. Wu, and M. Taylor, Weapons Carriage and Separation Workshop, 5-6 April 1988, WPAFB, OH.
  64. “Direct Measurement of Skin Friction with a New Instrument,” A.D. Vakili and J.M. Wu, Proceedings of the Intl. Symp. of Fluid Control and Measurement, Vol. 2, pp. 875-880, Pergamon Press, Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 1985.
  65. “Compressible Flow in a Diffusing S-Duct with Flow Separation,” A.D. Vakili, J.M. Wu, M.K. Bhat and P. Liver, Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Rotating Machinery, Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, Edited by: Wen-Jei Yang pp. 201-211, 1985.
  66. “Gas Flow Environment and Heat Transfer, The Nonrotating 3D Program,” Proceedings of the Turbine Engine HOST (Hot Section Technology) Program, NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, NASA TM 83022, October 19-20, 1982 (R.J. Schulz, T.V. Giel, Jr., A.D. Vakili, J. Steinhoff and M. Farmer).
  67. “Wing-Tip Jets Aerodynamics Performance,” J.M. Wu, A.D. Vakili and Z.L. Chen, Proceedings of 13th Congress of International Council of Aeronautical Sciences, Vol. II., pp. 1115-1121, August 22-27, 1982.
  68. “A New Instrument for Direct Measurement of Wall Shear Stress,” A.D. Vakili and J.M. Wu, Proceedings of 28th International Instrumentation Symposium, IAI Vol. 28, Adv. in Measurement, Vol. 19, Part 1, pp. 147-152, Instrument Society of America, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 1982.
  69. “Performance of Savanius Rotors,” P. Sundaram, S.P. Govinda Raju, A.D. Vakili, J.M. Wu, Proceedings of Wind and Solar Energy Technology Conference, pp. 380–384 Kansas City, Missouri, April 5-7, 1982.