Cyrus K. Aidun

Professor

Office:	IPST Building, Room 525
Phone:	404.894.6645
Fax:	404.894.4778
E-mail:

Education

• Ph.D., Clarkson University, 1985
• M.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1980
• B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1978

Research Areas and Descriptors

• Fluid Mechanics; Multiscale multiphysics simulation, biotransport, and Lattice-Boltzmann Method

Background

Dr. Aidun joined the Woodruff School as a Professor in 2003. He began at Tech in 1988 as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Paper Science and Technology. Prior, he was at Battelle Research Laboratories and was Senior Research Consultant at the National Science Foundation's Supercomputer Center at Cornell University.

Research

Dr. Aidun's research focuses on direct numerical simulation (DNS) of suspension hydrodynamics, including fiber suspension, biotransport, and whole blood flow. Additional research interests include methods for enhancement of convective and boiling heat transfer, multiscale biotransport and fluidics-based automation of sorting and selection of somatic embryogenesis for clonal propagation of plants.

Dr. Aidun has pioneered the development of the Lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method for suspension hydrodynamics and nonlinear dynamical systems. It is now well established that the LB method, based on the solution of discrete Boltzmann equation, is a superior computational method for hard particles as well as transport of deformable capsules and particle. These methods open the possibility for mechanical, thermal and rheological analyses of a broad class of deformable particle/fiber suspension flows.

Knowledge of fiber orientation in turbulent flow and the ability to predict and control fiber orientation anisotropy have significant impact on many products including paper and composite materials. Intense experiments and analysis over the past three years in Dr. Aidun’s laboratory have resulted in better understanding of fiber orientation in turbulent flow and the means to control fiber orientation distribution anisotropy, with applications to paper forming and fiber composite materials.

Multiscale analysis in biological systems has been identified as a major need in bioengineering researc. Professor Aidun, in collaboraiton with Professor Egertsdotter (VT) and Professor Taylor (Emory) are investigating the biochemical pathways specifically activated by hemodynamic shear stress acting on transmembrane glycoproteins and the cortical cytoskeleton of endothelial cells lining the arteries. In vitro flow experiments exposing endothelial cells to shear stress and measurement of the Heparin Sulfate (the main component of the Glycocalyx layer) show that shear stress significantly inhibits uptake (endocytosis) of Heparan Sulfate and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) by the cells. These results are significant considering that LDL deposition and atherosclerotic lesion formation occur predominantly in areas of the artery with low hemodynamic shear stress, such as regions of bifurcation and high curvature with flow separation.

Distinctions

• National Science Foundation
  • Program Director, 2001-2003
  • Presidential Young Investigator Award, 1992-1997
• Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industries
  • Joint TAPPI Journal and Journal of Pulp and Paper Science Best Research Paper Award, 2002 and 1997
  • Beloit Technical Award (Engineering Division), 2001
  • Foundation Research Award, 1991
• International Society of Coating Science and Technology L. E. Scriven Young Investigator Award, 1998
• American Forest and Paper Association George Olmsted Award, 1990

Selected Patents

• Methods and Apparatus to Enhance Paper and Board Forming Qualities, U. S. Patent 6,368,460, April 9, 2002
• Methods and Apparatus to Enhance Paper and Board Forming Qualities, U. S. Patent 6,153,057, November 28, 2000
• Methods and Apparatus to Enhance Paper and Board Forming Qualities, U. S. Patent 5,876,564, March 2, 1999
• Vortex-Free Coating Device for Traveling Webs, U. S. Patent 5,820,674, October 13, 1998
• Methods and Apparatus to Enhance Paper and Board Forming Qualitities, U. S. Patent 5,792,321, August 11, 1998

Representative Publications

• E. J. Ding and C, K. Aidun,. 2006. Cluster Size Distribution and Scaling for Spherical Particles and Red Blood Cells in Pressure-Driven Flows at Small Reynolds Number. Physics Review Letters 96 ( 20) (e-identifier 204502).
• M. Brown,, M. Parsheh,, and C,. K. Aidun. 2006. Turbulent Flow in a Converging Channel: Effect of Contraction and Return to Isotropy. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 560, 437-448.
• M. Parsheh, M. Brown,, and C. K. Aidun. 2005. On the Orientation of Stiff Fibres Suspended in Turbulent Flow in a Planar Contraction. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 545, 245-269.
• E-J Ding, and C. K. Aidun. 2003. Extension of the Lattice-Boltzmann Method for Direct Simulation of Suspended Particles Near Contact,” Journal of Statistical Physics 112, 685.
• C. K. Aidun, E-J Ding and Y. Lu. 1998. Direct Analysis of Particulate with Inertia Using the Discrete Boltzmann Equations. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 373, 287-311.