John C. Larue

Picture of John C. Larue
Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
The Henry Samueli School of Engineering
PH.D., University of California, San Diego
Phone: (949) 824-6737
Fax: (949) 824-8585
Email: jclarue@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
REC 305
Mail Code: 2750
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
Turbulence, Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer
Research Abstract
My research is in both the areas of turbulence mixing, micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and sensor development.

Since most flows of technological interest are turbulent, the primary focus of the research in the fluid dynamics/turbulence laboratory is to gain an understanding of turbulent flows. Often the focus is to gain a better understanding of how mixing takes place in turbulent flows so that combustion efficiency can be increased or NOx emissions reduced. We are also interested in gaining a better understanding of heat transfer in turbulent flows so that the heat transfer process can be made more efficient and can be more accurately predicted. As a third example, we are starting a study of the two way coupling between particles and turbulent flow to understand the interaction of the two phases. In general the problems that are studied in the laboratory tend to be more fundamental than applied. though some do have obvious applications.

In the MEMS area, we are developing and characterizing conducting polymers for use as electrical conducting structural elements in MEMS devices. We also have an ongoing study to develop a plasma pump for use in MEMS devices.

Since the flows are turbulent, time resolved measurements are required. Thus, we generally have the challenge of measuring time resolved quantities of interest such as velocity, temperature and concentration with spatial resolution to small scales. Typical frequencies of interest may run as high as 10kHz with spatial scales as small as 0.1 mm. In order to obtain these measurements, hot wire anemometers, Laser Doppler Velocimeters, Laser Rayleigh systems, and cold wire temperature sensors are used. The output from these systems are digitized using an Analogue to Digital converter. Analysis is typically accomplished using 386 and 486 computer systems and appropriate software. In some cases where there are no appropriate sensors for a specific measurement we develop sensors.
Last updated
11/15/2011