Research

Research Summary

My research is positioned at the intersection of thermal-fluid sciences and transport phenomena in porous and multiphase systems, with focus on heat-transfer enhancement, capillary-driven flow, non-isothermal wicking, evaporation, and coupled heat–mass transport. I study how heat, fluids, and dissolved species interact and move through porous structures under coupled thermal and hydraulic conditions, with the overarching goal of developing predictive and design-oriented frameworks for thermo-fluid systems.

My work integrates theory, experiments, and multiphysics simulations, complemented by data-driven modeling and machine learning. By combining physics-based understanding with AI-enabled predictive tools, I aim to accelerate simulation, parameter estimation, and optimization of complex thermo-fluid processes.

My research program is motivated by fundamental questions in transport phenomena while addressing applied challenges in modern engineering systems.

Research Impact and Applications

My research contributes to high-impact areas, including:

Data center and electronics cooling
Advanced thermal management systems
Heat pipes and passive cooling technologies
Energy systems involving phase-change and capillary transport
Environmental and groundwater remediation
Advanced textiles and functional porous materials
Passive thermal-fluid control in space and extreme environments

Research Projects

Non-Isothermal wicking in Porous Media

Overview

This research explores how temperature gradients affect capillary-driven liquid transport in porous media. Unlike classical isothermal models, real systems often involve temperature variations that change fluid properties such as viscosity and surface tension.

Through experiments, thermal imaging, and modeling, I study how these temperature-dependent effects influence wicking behavior and coupled heat–mass transfer.

Key Contributions

Demonstrated the role of temperature in modifying wicking dynamics
Developed and validated a predictive non-isothermal model
Combined experiments with analytical and numerical approaches

Applications

Heat pipes, passive cooling, thermal management, advanced textiles, and energy systems.

Schematic Diagram for experimental setup

Experimental Setup (In-house built)

Experimental result: Temperature effect on wicking height

Result from Simulation (Dynamic Temperature Model): Temperature distribution with time along the wick. The liquid is at 50 C.

Comparison among different models, the classical model, and the experimental result (Liquid at 50 C)

Temperature contours along the wick with corresponding wicking heights for a 70 °C liquid at different times. (Dynamic Temperature Model)

Mithril: Copper–Acrylic Hybrid Fabric for Heat Transfer Enhancement

Overview

This project explores heat-transfer enhancement in porous textiles through the development of a hybrid woven fabric, termed Mithril, created by integrating fine copper wires with acrylic yarns. The goal is to improve both thermal transport and liquid wicking performance in fabric-based systems.

By introducing high-conductivity copper pathways within a porous textile structure, the fabric enables faster heat spreading and enhanced evaporation-driven cooling.

Key Contributions

Developed a copper–acrylic hybrid woven fabric for enhanced heat transfer, demonstrated improved evaporation and cooling performance
Observed a stronger transient thermal response compared to conventional textiles, linked thermal conductivity enhancement to improve liquid transport

Applications

Wearable cooling, smart textiles, moisture management, and passive thermal regulation systems.

Two prototype fabrics were developed: an acrylic-only fabric serving as the control, and a copper–acrylic hybrid fabric termed Mithril (Named and woven by William Asma), designed for enhanced thermal and liquid transport.

Loomed Mithril

Cut section of Mithril

Copper (orange) and acrylic (gray) yarn orientations at 0°, 45°, and 90°. The effect of orientation on heat transfer and wicking was studied.

Control

Mithril

The heating experiment shows Mithril with better cooling performance.

Upward and Downward Salt Transport in Porous Media

Overview

This project investigates evaporation-driven salt transport and redistribution in granular porous media such as beach sand, silica sand, and gravel. The study focuses on cyclic upward capillary flow and downward flushing to understand how salts accumulate, dissolve, and migrate within porous systems.

Through controlled column experiments and quantitative measurements, this work examines how flow direction, evaporation, and porous structure influence salt dynamics.

Key Contributions

Studied coupled evaporation, wicking, and salt precipitation, quantified salt accumulation and flushing behavior
Compared transport behavior across different porous media, provided insights into vadose-zone contaminant dynamics

Applications

Soil salinization, groundwater contamination, environmental remediation, and vadose-zone hydrology.

Experimental Setup: Stress period 1,2

Salt Formation + trap after stress period 2

Effect of evaporation rate on salt removal efficiency at stress period 3

Effect of permeability on salt removal efficiency at stress period 3

Volatile Substance Dispersion Device (Patent-Pending)

Overview

This project involved the development of a next-generation device for controlled dispersion of volatile substances using engineered wick structures and capillary-driven transport. The system was designed to improve release consistency, efficiency, and passive operation without complex pumping mechanisms.

The design integrates porous media transport principles with practical device engineering to achieve stable and predictable vapor release.

Key Contributions

Solves the clogging of fragrance inside the wick

Prototype of the wick-assisted volatile substance dispersion device.

Conceptual schematic illustrating capillary-driven transport and vapor release.

In-house built experimental setup for recording mass loss of volatiles over 24 hours

Water Infusion and Capillary Transport in Ceramics

Overview

This project investigates capillary-driven water infusion in porous ceramic materials. The study examines how pore structure and material properties influence liquid uptake, saturation dynamics, and transport behavior.

Through controlled experiments and modeling, this work improves understanding of capillary transport in rigid porous solids.

Conceptual illustration of saturated and unsaturated zones showing capillary rise from the groundwater table.

Schematic of droplet-driven capillary infiltration into a porous ceramic block, illustrating saturation evolution (S).

Experimental & Modeling

Experimental (Neutron Microscope Imaging) and simulated results of capillary-driven water infusion in the ceramic.

Top (a-c): Simulated saturation contours showing spatial evolution of moisture distribution within the ceramic, Bottom: Saturation profiles versus depth for bare ceramic, hydrophilic-coated ceramic, and ceramic with hydrophobic inclusions

Numerical simulation depicting dynamic infusion of moisture into a porous ceramic tile. This numerical simulation utilized the Richards equation, a commonly employed mathematical model for analyzing water distribution in the vadose zone. COMSOL Multiphysics, a software based on the finite element method, was employed to conduct the simulation.

Undergraduate Thesis - Numerical Investigation for Entropy Gen, Heat Transfer inside a Prismatic Enclosure

Overview

This undergraduate thesis investigated entropy generation and convective heat transfer in an air-filled prismatic enclosure using numerical modeling. The study analyzed how thermal gradients and natural convection influence heat transfer and thermodynamic irreversibility within the enclosure.

The configuration is relevant to attic-shaped spaces in residential buildings, where understanding airflow and heat transfer can help improve thermal comfort and reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling.

Applications

Energy-efficient building design
Thermal management in enclosed spaces
Heat-exchanging and cooling systems
Identification and reduction of thermodynamic inefficiencies through entropy generation analysis

Schematic diagram

Isotherm plot

Isentropic Plot

Variation of Nusselt number with Raleigh number

Variation of Entropy generation with Raleigh number

Some of the figures are attached here

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