Director: Dr. Kozo Saito, Tennessee Valley Authority Professor in Mechanical Engineering 179 Ralph G. Anderson Building University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506 Phone: 859 257-6336 ext. 80639 E-mail: saito@engr.uky.edu

• Field of Specialization
  • Experimental combustion studies (flame structure, soot formation, phase change mechanisms and propulsion)
  • Fire research (building fires, wildland fires, flame spread, flame extinguishment and optical measurements)
  • Painting technology research (scale modeling, simulation, surface appearance, paint-spray transfer efficiency and over-spray capturing) PTW2006, PTW2005, PTW2004, PTW2003, PTW2002, PTW2001 and PTW2000
  • Lean manufacturing system and creativity study Toyota Fellow Program
  • Scale modeling in engineering ISSM-V, ISSM-IV
  
  
• Major Governmental and Industrial Sponsorships (in alphabetical order)
  • NASA
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology
  • National Science Foundation
  • Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico
  • US Department of Energy
  • US Environmental Protection Agency, North Carolina Office
  • USDA Forest Service
  • Kentucky - NASA EPSCoR
  • Kentucky Office of Energy Policy
  • Kentucky Science and Engineering Corporation
  • Admatechs Corporation Limited
  • Angell Manufacturing, Kentucky
  • Honda of America Manufacturing
  • Innovative Productivity Inc. (National Surface Treatment Center)
  • Mitsui Bussan Nanotech Research Institute Inc.
  • Nippon Steel Corp., Japan
  • Nissan Motor Corp., Japan
  • Pratt & Whitney
  • Prime Finish, Kentucky
  • Secat Inc., Kentucky
  • Sekimoto Engineering
  • Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, North American, Inc.
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
  • Trinity Industrial Corp., Japan
  
  
• Graduate Student Advisees
  Current employers are listed in italic
  
  Doctoral:
  
  • Shyam Venkatesh (1992), "Combustion of chlorinated hydrocarbons", Director, Technology Partnering BAE, NASA Ames Research Center, California.
  • John Baker (1993), "Fluid dynamic instability of liquids" (Co-director with Prof. S.N. Singh), U. of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Faculty.
  • Heng Ban (1994) "Coal particle separation", Utah State University, Faculty.
  • Cheng Qian (1995), "Flame spread along the vertical corner walls", General Motors Corp. Sr. engineer.
  • Liyan Wang (1996), "Thermal sensing in machining process", Ford Motor Corp. Sr. engineer
  • Jae Um (1996), "Spray cooling during machining process" (Co-director with Prof. L. Chow), General Electric, R&D engineer.
  • Ghassan Tashtoush (1997), "Flame spread over liquids", Jordan Univ. of Science and Technology, Faculty.
  • Asmund Vego (1997), "Scale modeling of circulation fluidized beds", Lexmark International, Lexington, Project Manager.
  • Victor Garzon (1997-1999 Transferred to MIT), "CFD calculation on large scale fires" (Co-director with Prof. J.M. McDonough).
  • Abraham Salazar (1998), "CFD Simulation of Automotive Spray Painting Process", University of Kentucky, Research Faculty.
  • Tianxiang Li (1999), "Coal particle separation", University of Kentucky, Research Faculty.
  • Seog-Shin Lee (Incomplete), "Lean manufacturing", Pacer Brake System, Lean Manufacturing coordinator.
  • Liming Yuan (2002), "Flame synthesis of carbon nanotubes", National Institute of Ocupational Safety and Health, Associate Fellow.
  • Karina Hauser (2002), "Lean manufacturing" Utah State University, Business and Economics, Faculty.
  • Keng Hoo Chuah (2004), "Optimization and simulation of just-in-time supply system", University of Kentucky, Research Faculty.
  • Moh'd A. Omar (2005), "Infrared Themography for Products and Process Control", Clemson University, Faculty.
  • Nu'man Abu-Dheir (2005), "Vibration Casting", King Fahad University of Minerals and Materials, Saudi Arabia, Faculty.
  • Wahed Wasel (2006), "CVD Carbon Nanotube Synthesis", Morehead State University, Faculty.
  • Belal Gharaibeh (2006), "UV Paint Surface Inspection Technique", University of Kentucky, Research Associate.
  • Vedanth Srinivasan (2006), "CFD Simulation on Spray Paint Processes", AVL North America, Plymouth, MI, Project Engineer
  • Nelson Akafuah (2006-present), "Characterization of new paint applicators", PhD Candidate.
  • Ahmad Salaimeh (2006-present), "IR thermal inspection system".PhD Candidate.
  • John Henninger (present), "Manufacturing" (Co-Advisor: L. Holloway).
  
  Master:
  
  • Sandra Elam (1988), "Combustion", NASA Huntsville, AL.
  • Sanjev Jolly (1988), "Fire research".
  • Wen-Xiu Lin (1992), "Corner wall fires", Chinese restaurant owner.
  • Siru Ling (1992), "Liquid fuel combustion", Akebono Brake.
  • Samir Dey (1993), "Development of no vent filling system", ProTek Engineering Co.
  • Vijaykumar Ramasamy (1995), "Plasama-enhanced combustion", Caterpillar.
  • Scot Duncan, "Kanban System", Toyota, Georgetown, KY.
  • Kiyoko Uchida (1997), A special exchange student from Japan.
  • Kelly Flannery (1998), " Turbine blade cooling", Pratt & Whitney.
  • Ken Fukuda, a visiting MS student from Kanagawa Inst. of Tech., Japan, 1999.
  • Albert Cheah Chong Hooi (2000), "Lean manufacturing", Intel in Malaysia.
  • Sugianto Jasin (2001), "Acoustically enhanced combustion", GTI.
  • Jackie Ackman (2001), "Ergonomics".
  • Neil Erickson (2002), "Lean manufacturing", Lexmark International.
  • Monica Latumina (Incomplete), "Lean manufacturing", Toyota Fellow.
  • Tapiwa Grupira (2002), "Particle separation technology", Tribo Flow Separation Inc.
  • Dave Bornett (2003), "Fire research", Bullard.
  • Kunlun Hong (2003), "Lean Manufacturing Implementation Case Study", AI-Flint.
  • Myron Rickard (2003), "Selective Catalytic Reduction & Energy Efficiency", Cummins, Inc., IN.
  • Mangesh Kolharkar (2004), "Surface Coating and inspection technique", Ellison, CA.
  • Varahalaraju Kalidindi (2004), "Thermal Aspects of Dental Implant", Titan Technology Partners.
  • Pavan Kumar Singh (2004), "Scale Modeling of Steel Making Process", Private Sector, India.
  • Harley Colbert (2000-04), "CFD Studies on Electrostatic Effects of Paint Particle Transfer", FUNAC, Engineer.
  • Ashish Kamat (2001-04), "An Investigation of Image Processing Techniques for Paint Defect Detection using a Machine Vision System", Consolidated Diesel Company, N.C., Manufacturing Engineer.
  • Sitaramaraju S. Penmetsa (2004), "Scale Modeling of Aluminum Melting Furnace", Johnson Control, Kentucky.
  • Fengjuan Wang (2006), Non-thesis option.
  • Brad Pabian (2005-present), "Hydrogen Combustion", Trane, Lexington KY.
  • Chong Wang (2005-2007), "Lean Manufacturing", Cummins, Inc., IN.
  
  Postdoctorals / Visiting Scholars:
  
  • Ikuo Tokura (1986-87), (Japanese Ministry of Education Fellow), Muroran Inst. of Tech., Japan.
  • Masataka Arai (1987-88), Hiroshima University, Japan.
  • Takao Inamura (1988-89), Tohoku University, Japan.
  • Masatosh Daikoku (1989-90), Hachinohe Institute of Technology, Japan.
  • Akira Arakawa (1990-91), Tohoku University, Japan.
  • George Sidebotham (1990), Cooper Union, New York.
  • Akihiko Ito (1991-92, and the summer of the 1994 through 98), Oita University, Japan.
  • Tetsuya Oizumi (1991-92), Sendai National College of Technology, Japan.
  • Hiroki Ishida (1992-93), Nagaoka National College of Technology, Japan.
  • Akira Narumi (1994-95), Kanagawa Institute of Technology, Japan.
  • Ken Okada (Spring of 1995), President of SI Technology.
  • Cheng Qian (1995-97), General Motors Corp..
  • Liyan Wang (1996-97), Ford Motor Corp..
  • Tomohiro Naruse (1996), (Japanese Ministry of Education Fellow), University of Tokyo, Japan.
  • Yuji Nakamura (1996-97 and summer of 1998), Hokkaido University, Japan.
  • Kozo Sekimoto (Spring of 1996), President of Sekimoto Engineering, Japan.
  • Ghassan Tashtoush (1997-1999 and summer of 2001), Jordan Univ. of Science and Technology, Jordan.
  • Nobu Iwai (1997-99 and 2001), Seikei University, Japan.
  • Larry Wang (1997-98).
  • Tadashi Konishi (Summer of 1997 and 1998, Oita National College of Technology, Japan.
  • Marcos Raydan (Summer of 1999), Central University of Venezuela, Venezuela.
  • Jun Ishimoto (2000-01), Tohoku University, Japan.
  • Kazunori Kuwana (2000-06), University of Tokyo, Japan.
  • Abdel Hamid Hilali (2000), Helwan University, Egypt.
  • Genichiro Kushida (2001-02), Aichi Inst. of Tech., Japan.
  • Liming Yuan (2002), National Institute of Ocupational Safety and Health.
  • Hajime Endo (2002), Visiting Doctoral Student, Tohoku University, Japan.
  • Valerio Viti (2004-06), Fluent Inc..
  • Mohammad Hassan (2005), Helwan University, Egypt.
  • Moh'd A. Omar (2005-06), Clemson University, Clemson.
  • Nu'man Abu-Dheir (2005-06), King Fahad University of Minerals and Materials, Saudi Arabia.
  • Tamio Ida (2005-06), Kinki University, Japan.
  • Fumio Akagi (2005-06), Fukuoka Inst. of Tech., Japan.
  • Kazutaka Kitagawa (2005-06), Aichi Inst. of Tech., Japan.
  • Masami Hirayama (2006-07), Nagoya University, Japan.
  • Hiroyuki Ito (2007-08), Hokkaido University, Japan.