CoMFRE

CoMFRE’s Shankar Subramaniam delivered an invited lecture on turbulent particle suspensions at the 2024 International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics symposium on rapid granular flows and turbulent particle suspensions
CoMFRE's Shankar Subramaniam, recently attended a symposium of leading multiphase flow researchers from across the globe in Mumbai, India. Read More

June 12, 2024
CoMFRE’s Dennis Vigil leads project to develop continuous bioreactor

March 29, 2024
Thanks to CoMFRE undergrad research experience, Olivia Tyrrell shot for the moon… and made it

March 28, 2024
New Soft Matter Electrostatic Levitator makes possible world’s first neutron scattering on levitated salt solution droplets up to extreme supersaturation
John Jonghyun Lee, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, led research that demonstrated the world’s first neutron scattering on levitated salt solution droplets up to extreme supersaturation. The team used a novel instrument they designed called a Soft Matter Electrostatic Levitator (SEL), integrated into the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s High Flux Isotope Reactor’s WAND2 facility. Read More

December 1, 2023
Advancing “placenta-on-a-chip” with sensing and imaging technology
Nicole Hashemi and her students will advance a "placenta-on-a-chip" – which models how medicines, nutrients and other substances are passed from mother to fetus – with a new, three-year, $350,000 National Science Foundation Mid-Career Advancement grant. Read More

November 28, 2023
Breaking barriers in filtration: CoMFRE researchers developing new approach to maintaining colloidal filtration systems
Jaime Juarez, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Michael Olsen, professor of mechanical engineering, have secured an NSF award to study an innovative approach to maintaining colloidal filtration systems. Juarez and Olsen are exploring using acoustic waves to break apart colloid buildup and or prevent buildup from developing. Read More

September 15, 2023
Ted Heindel receives ASME 2023 Freeman Scholar Award
Theodore (Ted) J. Heindel, the Bergles Professor of Thermal Science, University Professor of mechanical engineering, and director of Iowa State’s Center for Multiphase Flow Research and Education (CoMFRE), has been selected to receive the 2023 Freeman Scholar Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Read More

July 21, 2023
Fynn Reinbacher fires up oxy-fuel combustion project in Gas Turbine Industrial Fellowship
Fynn Reinbacher, a Ph.D. candidate in mechanical engineering and a graduate assistant in CoMFRE affiliate James Michael’s research group, was a Gas Turbine Industrial Fellow at Southwest Research Institute. Reinbacher focused on three projects in oxy-fuel combustion, contributing unique multi-phase flow research expertise he developed at Iowa State. Read More

June 7, 2023
The Conversation: Ted Heindel, fluid flow expert, on why peanut butter is a liquid and the physics of this and other unexpected fluids
"When the TSA recently confiscated a jar of Jif under the rule that only liquid under 3.4 ounces can be carried on a plane, peanut butter lovers were up in arms. Just like Americans’ favorite legume-based sandwich ingredient, the story – and the outrage it inspired – began to spread. However, I’m a mechanical engineer who studies fluid flows, and the TSA action made sense to me. By the scientific definition, peanut butter is indeed a liquid." Read More

May 4, 2023
Stormwater flow: New project seeks more efficient and equitable public stormwater infrastructure
Chris Rehmann, a CoMFRE affiliate faculty member, leads a new stormwater management project that received Iowa State University Strategic Plan Presidential jump start seed funding. The project will work to improve planning and decision-making processes for more equitable and effective public stormwater infrastructure. Read More

March 23, 2023
Aerospace Engineering’s Ping He receives Mack 2050 Challenge honor
Department of Aerospace Engineering assistant professor Ping He has been named a Michael and Denise Mack 2050 Challenge Scholar. The program was established to support the Iowa State University College of Engineering’s 2050 vision. It supports one junior faculty member with fellowship funding. Read More

February 23, 2023
Unlocking cell communication using biotronics
The Department of Defense has recently awarded Cyclone Engineers Reza Montazami and Nicole Hashemi a project exploring a novel approach to investigate cells’ bioelectric activities. Read More

January 17, 2023
Undergrad CoMFRE research leads to national conference competition
Jacob Knuerr is building his one-of-a-kind multiphase flow research skills and connecting with multiphase scholars from across the world as an undergraduate research assistant working with faculty mentor Ted Heindel, CoMFRE director, University Professor, and the Bergles Professor of Thermal Science in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Read More

December 19, 2022
Student poster competition recognizes outstanding multiphase flow research
CoMFRE held a student poster competition at 2022 Symposium and Member Meeting in October, and four graduate and undergraduate students won top poster honors. Read More

November 18, 2022
Icing discoveries receive AIAA best paper honors
A paper published by CoMFRE affiliate Hui Hu, Martin C. Jischke Professor in Aerospace Engineering, and three of his former Ph.D. students has been selected for the 2022 AIAA Gas Turbine Engine Best Paper Award by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ (AIAA) Gas Turbine Engines Technical Committee. Read More

November 18, 2022