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School of Engineering

People Phuoc X. Tran

Adjunct Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science


Research Engineer
Environmental Sciences Division
U.S. Department of Energy
National Energy Technology Laboratory

Phone: 412-386-6024

 

Education

PhD, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1985
MS, Mechancial Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1974
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Vietnamese National Military Academy (VNMA), 1970

Professional Interests

Phuoc Tran's research interests are mainly in the following areas:

  • Combustion
  • Laser ignition
  • Laser ablation
  • Nanomaterials
  • Nanofluids

Selected Publications

Tran X. Phuoc and Mehrdad Massoudi, “Experimental observations of the effects of shear rates and particle concentration on the viscosity of Fe2O3 – Deionized water nanofluids,” International Journal of Thermal Sciences, (in press)

Tae-Bong Hur, Tran X. Phuoc, and Minking K. Chyu, “Synthesis of Mg-Al and Zn-Al layered double hydroxide nanocrystals using laser ablation in water,” Optics and Lasers in Engineering, (in press)

Mehrdad Massoudi and Tran X. Phuoc, “On the motion of a second grade fluid due to longitudinal and torsional oscillations of a cylinder: A numerical study, Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computation, 203 (2008) 471-481

Tran X. Phuoc, Bret. H. Howard, Donald V. Martello, Yee Soong, Minking K. Chyu, “Synthesis of Mg(OH)2 , MgO, and Mg nanoparticles using laser ablation of magnesium in water and solvents, Optics and Lasers in Engineering 46 (2008), pp. 829-834.

Mehrdad Massoudi and Tran X. Phuoc, “Flow of a non-linear (density-gradient-dependent) viscous fluid with heat generation, viscous dissipation and radiation,” Mathematical Methods in the Applied Science, 31 (2008) 1685-1703

Mehrdad Massoudi and Tran X. Phuoc, “Pulsatile flow of blood using a modified second-grade fluid model, International Journal of Computers and Mathematics with Applications, 56, 199-211 (2008)

Tran X. Phuoc, Yee Soong, Minking K. Chyu, “Synthesis of Ag-Deionized water nanofluids using multi-beam laser ablation in liquids,” Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 45, 1099-1106 (2007)

Tran X. Phuoc and Ruey-Hung Chen,” Use of Laser-induced Spark for Studying Ignition Stability and Unburned Hydrogen Escaping from Laminar Diluted Hydrogen Diffusion Jet Flames,” Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 45, 834-842, 2007.

Mehrdad Massoudi and Phuoc X. Tran, “Conduction and Dissipation in the Shearing Flow of Granular Materials Modeled as non-Newtonian Fluids,” Powder Tech, 175, 146-162, 2007

Mehrdad Massoudi and Tran X. Phuoc; “Modeling granular materials as compressible non-linear fluids: Heat transfer boundary value problems,” Mathematical Problems in Engineering, volume 2006 (2006), Article ID 56046, 31 pages.

Massoudi, M. and Tran X. Phuoc, “Unsteady Shear Flow of Fluids with Pressure Dependent viscosity,”  Int. J. of Engineering Science, 44, 915-926, 2006

Tran X. Phuoc, “Laser-Induced Spark Ignition Fundamental and Applications,” Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 44, 351-397, 2006

Tran X. Phuoc, “Laser-Induced Spark for simultaneous ignition and fuel-to-air ratio measurements, Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 44, 520-534 (2006)

Massoudi, M. and Tran X. Phuoc, “Heat transfer in flowing granular materials: The effects of radiation boundary condition,”  Int. J. of Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 10, 489-503, 2005.

Tran X. Phuoc, “An experimental and numerical study of laser-induced spark in air,” Optics and Laser in Engineering, 43, 113-129, 2005.

Tran X. Phuoc, “A comparative study of the photon pressure force, the photophoretic force, and the adhesion van der Waals force,” Optics Communications, 245, 27-35, 2005

Mehrdad Massoudi and Tran X. Phuoc , “Conduction Heat Transfer and Dissipation in the Flow of Granular Materials due to Shear,”  Journal of Energy, Heat, and Mass Transfer, 27, 1-21, 2005

Mehrdad Massoudi and Tran X. Phuoc, “Numerical solution to the shearing flow of granular materials between two plates,” International Journal of Non-linear Mechanics, 40, 1-9, January 2005.

Mehrdad Massoudi and Tran X. Phuoc, “Flow of a generalized second grade non-Newtonian fluid with variable viscosity,” Continuum Mech. Thermodyn., 16, 529-538, 2004.

Tran X. Phuoc, “A numerical study of the radiation forces on an absorbing particle using the ray optics approach”, Optics Communications, 241, 271-277, 2004.

Phuoc, T. X.  and White, F. P. “AN OPTICAL AND SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE LASER-INDUCED SPARK FOR DETERMINATION OF THE LASER MINIMUM IGNITION ENERGY,” 29th Symposium (International) The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh, 29: 1621-1628, 2003.

Phuoc, T. X., et al. “LASER SPARK IGNITION OF A JET DIFFUSION FLAME,” Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 38, 217-232, 2002 (Main author).

Phuoc, X. T., “Laser-Induced Spark for Measurements of the Fuel-to-Air Ratio of a Combustible Mixture”, Fuel, 81, 1761-1765, 2002.

Phuoc, T. X., and White, C. M., “OPTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF OF THE LASER INDUCED SPARK IN AIR,” Optical Diagnostics in Energineering, Vol. 5, 13-26, June 2001.Also available on the ODE Web site: http://www.ode-web.demon.co.uk/PAPERS/Tran2.pdf; (Main author).

Phuoc, T. X., and Massoudi, M., “Fully Developed Flow of a Modified Second Grade Fluid with Temperature Dependent Viscosity,” Acta Mechanica, 150, 23-37, 2001; (co-author).

Phuoc, T. X., and White, F. P., “The transient ignition of coal particle cloud,” Journal of Energy, Heat, and Mass Transfer, 23, 73-86, 2001; (Main author).

Phuoc T. X., “Single-Point Versus Multi-Point Laser Ignition:Experimental Measurements of Combustion Times And Pressures,”  Combustion and Flame, 122, 508-510, 2000.

Phuoc T. X., “Laser spark Ignition: Single-point versus Multipoint ignition,” Combustion Science and Technology Communications, 1, 3-7, 2000.

Massoudi M., and Phuoc T. X., “The effect of slip boundary condition on the flow of granular materials: A continuum approach,” International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics, 35, 745-761, 2000.

Phuoc T. X., “Laser spark ignition: Experimental determination of laser-induced breakdown thresholds of combustion gases,” Optics Communications, 175, 419-423, 2000.

Phuoc T. X., and White, C., “Experimental Studies of the Absorption and Emissions from Laser-Induced Spark in Combustible Gases,” Optics Communications, 181, 353-359, 2000.

Phuoc T. X., and Annamalai, K., “A Heat and Mass Transfer Analysis of the Ignition and Extinction of Solid Char Particles,” ASME Journal of Heat Transfer, 121, 886-893, 1999.

Phuoc T. X., and White, F., “Laser-Induced Spark Ignition of CH4-air mixtures,” Combustion and Flame, 119,203-216, 1999.

Massoudi, M., and Phuoc T. X., “On the Fully Developed Flow of a Dense Particulate Mixture in a Pipe”, Powder Technology, 104, 258-267, 1999.

Phuoc T. X., and Massoudi, M., “A Numerical Study of The Flow of Granular Materials Between Two Vertical Flat Plates Which Are At Different Temperatures,” Particulate Science and Technology, The International Journal, 17, 149-163, 1999.

Maasoudi, M., and Phuoc T. X., “Flow and heat transfer due to natural convection in granular materials,” International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics, 34, 347-359, 1999.

Phuoc X. T., Mathur, M.P., and Ekmann, J. M., “Ignition and Extinction of Solid Fuel Particles”, Fourth Asian Pacific Internation Symposium on Combustion and Energy Utilization, Bangkok Thailand, December, 1997.

Phuoc X. T., Mathur, M.P., Ekmann, J. M., and White, F., “Nox Emission of a Jet Diffusion Flame Which is Surrounded by a Shroud of Combustion Air”, Optical Diagnostics in Engineering, 2(1), 33-44, 1997.

Phuoc X. T., Mathur, M.P., and Ekmann, J. M., “Combustion Characteristics of a Pulsed-Jet Flame Surrounded by a Shroud of Combustion Air”, Third Asian Pacific International Symposium on Combustion and Energy Utilization, pp. 679-684, 1995.

Phuoc X. T., and Durbetaki, P., “Numerical Study of Radiative Ignition of Pyrolizing Solid Fuels”, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids, 20, p. 507, 1995.

Phuoc X. T., Mathur, M.P., Ekmann, J. M., and Durbetaki, P., “High-Energy Nd-Yag Laser Ignition of Coals: Modeling Analysis” Combustion and Flame, 94, 349-362, 1993.

Phuoc X. T., Mathur, M.P., and Ekmann, J. M., “High-Energy Nd-Yag Laser Ignition of Coals: Experimental Observations,” Combustion and Flame, 93, 19-30, 1993.

Phuoc X. T., Mathur, M.P., Ekmann, J. M., and Durbetaki, P., “Numerical Study of Laser-Induced Ignition of Coals,” Numerical Methods in Thermal Problems (R.W. Lewis, K.Morgan, editors), Pineridge Press, Swansea, U.K., vol 8, p. 1310, 1993.

Phuoc T. X., and Mathur M. P., “Transient Heating of a Coal Particle Undergoing Pyrolysis,” Combustion and Flame, 85, 380-388, 1991.

Phuoc T. X., and Durbetaki, P.,”Radiative Ignition of Fabrics and Assemblies:  Experiments and Modeling,” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 30, 859, 1990.

Phuoc, T. X., and Maloney, D., “Laser Pyrolysis of Single Coal Particles In An Electrodynamic Balance,” 22nd International Symposium on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, p. 125-134, 1988.

Durbetaki, P., and Phuoc T. X., “Ignition Phase Transition of a Polymer: Convective Exposure,” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 25, 373-386, 1988.

Phuoc T. X., and Durbetaki, P., “Pulverized Coal Conversion In Down Flow Gasifier,” International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 24, 203-218, 1987.

Phuoc T. X., and Durbetaki, P., “Heat and Mass Transfer Analysis of a Coal Particle Undergoing Pyrolysis,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 30, 2331-2339, 1987.

Phuoc T. X., and Durbetaki, P., “Modeling Gas Phase Ignition of a Polymer,” Numerical Methods in Thermal Problems (R.W. Lewis, K.Morgan, editors), Pineridge Press, Swansea, U.K., vol 4, p. 937, 1985.

Phuoc T. X., and Durbetaki, P.,”Modeling an Entrained Flow Coal Devolatilization Reactor,” Numerical Methods in Thermal Problems (R.W. Lewis, K. Morgan, editors) Pineridge Press, Swansea, U.K., vol 4, p. 992, 1985.

Phuoc T. X., and Durbetaki, P., “Experiment and Modeling of Ignition of Thermally Thin Plane Parallel Pyrolyzing Solids Under Transient Radiative Heating,” ICHemE Symposium Series, No 86, Vol. 2 Pergamon Press, Oxford, U.K. p.1057, 1984.

Phuoc T. X., and Durbetaki, P., “Ignition of Initially Unmixed Gases at Stagnation Region of a Blunt Porous Body,” Numerical Methods in Thermal Problems, Vol. 3 (R.W. Lewis, J.A. Johnson and W. R. Smith, editors) Pineridge Press, Swansea, U.K., p.805, 1983.

faculty

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has 16 full time, 6 adjuct, and 5 emeritus faculty members