Associate Professor; PhD, University of Minnesota
 

Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, Viscoelastic Flow

Narain's primary research interest is in the area of internal condensing flows and his secondary interests are in related areas of fluid mechanics and heat transfer. The condensing flow research has applications in thermal management systems, looped heat pipes, etc. His most recent publications deal with code development and full computational simulation of condensing flows, modeling of interfacial shear, and state of the art experiments for internal condensing flows.

Ongoing research emphasizes enhanced computational code developments and new experiments for condensing flows in ducts. The ongoing NSF-funded experiments involve electronic flow control techniques and development of a fluorescence-based optical technique for measuring real time locations of the wavy interface. Other ongoing research involves: (i) CFD/CHT simulations and design recommendations for improvements in the performance of a commercial heat-exchanger, and (ii) a study (with C. L. Anderson as PI) of cavitation signatures in General Motors'  Torque-Converters.

Publications

• Narain, A., Q. Liang, G. Yu, and X. Wang "Direct computational simulations for internal condensing flows and results on attainability/stability of steady solutions, their intrinsic waviness, and their noise-sensitivity" (in press for publication in the ASME Journal of Applied Mechanics, Jan. 2004).
• Narain, A., Yu, G. , and Liu, Q., "Interfacial Shear Models and their Required Asymptotic Form for Annular/Stratified Film Condensation Flows in Inclined Channels and Vertical Pipes," International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 40, No. 15, pp. 3559-75, 1997.
• Narain, A., "Modeling of Interfacial Shear for Gas Liquid Flows in Annular Film Condensation," ASME Journal of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 529-38, 1996.
• Narain, A. and Joseph, D. D., "Linearized Dynamics for Step Jumps of Velocity and Displacement of Shearing Flows of a Simple Fluid," Rheologica Acta, 21, pp. 228-50, 1983.