1990-Present and Beyond
TO: ME Graduate Students
FROM: Dr. M. Kostic, P.E., Assoc. Professor
RE: Your Thesis Choice
This is to let you know that I am currently offering a number of M.S. Thesis topics to qualified and interested students. I will advise you to discuss your thesis options with every faculty member before you make up your final decision.
Enclosed are descriptions of some possible research topics, as well as my own research experience and interests. You are welcomed and encouraged to propose other topics you may be interested in.
If you and I agree to work on your thesis research under my supervision you should expect to get appropriate professional support and encouragement, and if you work hard to finish the thesis in reasonable time. Financial support is possible depending on research fund availability. I will be also glad to help you in further pursuit of your career.
Therefore, please feel free to make an appointment with me to discuss the above.
Co: Chairman of the Department
NOTE 1:
Assistantships are competitive and you (student) should discuss with all faculty for available opportunities before you make final choice and full commitment. We faculty do and should fairly compete for excellent students before they make their choice and commitment, but not after that (will be unfair, waste of time and resources), since MS program is rather short and our time for your training and funds are limited. Therefore, our financial opportunities are offered to only qualified students with firm commitments. Furthermore, we should not support students changing projects (unproductive for everyone and loss of investment) unless all involved agree with that. The assistantship, when available should be accepted only if you are freely and fully committed to the objectives of the funded project without a doubt (you may work voluntarily to find out). Then, if you accept our assistantship it should be respected as a research and training opportunity, an honor beyond monetary reward, and as the professional responsibility and reference for your future career. [Agree]
Possible Theses Topics
(to be supervised by Professor M. Kostic)
Current openings: Development of advanced, drag-reduction heat-transfer nanofluids (DRnanofluids), and Development of advanced, drag-reduction lubrication (tribological) nanofluids (POLY-DRnanofluids). More at: A Nanofluids Research Initiative (at www.kostic.niu.edu/DRnanofluids ).Current openings: Thermal Conductivity Measurement of Fluids With Changing and Anisotropic Structure Due to Shearing FlowExperimental comparative study of heat transfer to viscoelastic fluids and water in a shell-and-tube heat exchangerA study of flow and heat transfer to viscoelastic fluids in square ductA flow visualization study of viscoelastic fluid flow in channelsDevelopment of a capillary tube viscometer for non-Newtonian fluidsFully Developed Velocity and Temperature Profiles of Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in Rectangular DuctsEntrance Region Velocity and Temperature Profiles of Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in Rectangular DuctsYou are welcomed and encouraged to propose other topics you may be interested in
Thermal Conductivity Measurement of Fluids With Changing and Anisotropic Structure Due to Shearing Flow
The objectives of this project are to employ an innovative method to measure the fluid thermal conductivity while in shearing flow, and to determine its dependence on the shearing itself, contrary to the current state-of-the-art of measuring thermal conductivity under the condition of motionless fluid. It is known that some fluid structure could be affected by shearing (becoming fiber-like, non-uniform and non-isotropic), particularly for high molecular polymeric solutions or other rheologically complex non-Newtonian fluids. Therefore, it is important to measure the thermal conductivity corresponding to actual fluid structure while undergoing shearing flow.
A concentric-cylinders apparatus was developed to provide controlled heat transfer in the radial direction, orthogonal to the circumferential fluid velocity. Therefore, the fluid velocity component in the direction of heat flow is zero, thus virtually preserving pure conductive heat transfer mode. The measurement and control are accomplished and integrated by using a computerized data acquisition system and a comprehensive virtual instrument, developed using the LabVIEW application software.
Students interested in this project should be comfortable with or willing to learn to use experimental methods and computerized data acquisition. The problem is well defined and a prospective student could quickly go through the theoretical background and literature review alone or with me within the Independent Study course (MEE 597).
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Go to TOP] * Thermal Conductivity Apparatus with Computerized Data Acquisition * A NOVEL THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT - NSF Final Report
Experimental comparative study of heat transfer to viscoelastic fluids and water in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger
Using the existing apparatus for the so called "Free and forced heat transfer experiment," a comparative study of heat transfer with aqueous polymer solutions and water should be performed. To facilitate data reduction procedure and analysis a computer program could be written.
Students interested in this project should be comfortable with or willing to learn to use experimental methods. The problem is well defined and a prospective student could quickly go through the theoretical background and literature review alone or with me within the Independent Study course (MEE 597).
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A study of flow and heat transfer to viscoelastic fluids in square duct
This will be a continuation of the previous M.S. thesis project of
Students interested in this project should be comfortable with or willing to learn to use experimental methods. The problem is well defined and a prospective student could quickly go through the theoretical background and literature review alone or with me within the Independent Study course (MEE 597).
[Go to TOP] * Heat-transfer and Flow-loop Apparatus
A flow visualization study of viscoelastic fluid flow in channels
The flow loop apparatus will be used by adding three simple parallel test sections made of transparent Plexiglas, namely a circular, square and rectangular channels, suitable for flow visualization study. Appropriate flow visualization techniques using dye or other particle injection methods should be developed. By analyzing the flow visualization pictures/frames one should obtain qualitative and quantitative information about the flow behavior, which is the objective of this research. If the funding (now pending) is obtained, other students could be involved in employing high speed camera and digital image processing in order to measure the laminar velocity profile with an emphasis on secondary flow, and also to comparatively study the turbulence structure of these flows.
Students interested in this project should be comfortable with or willing to learn to use experimental methods. The problem is well defined and a prospective student could quickly go through the theoretical background and literature review alone or with me within the Independent Study course (MEE 597).
[Go to TOP] * Heat-transfer and Flow-loop Apparatus
Development of a capillary tube viscometer for non-Newtonian fluids
This project will consist of a design and fabrication of a capillary tube apparatus (a simple but nice for an M.S. project) and development of a procedure for data reduction, with a computer program, for viscosity measurements of non-Newtonian fluids. The procedure should be tested by appropriate viscosity measurements.
Students interested in this project should be comfortable with or willing to learn to use experimental methods. The problem is well defined and a prospective student could quickly go through the theoretical background and literature review alone or with me within the Independent Study course (MEE 597).
[Go to TOP] * Thermal Conductivity Apparatus with Computerized Data Acquisition * A NOVEL THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT - NSF Final Report
Fully Developed Velocity and Temperature Profiles of Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in Rectangular Ducts
This study is to deal with numerical solution of the appropriate second order partial differential equations. Different forms of non-Newtonian fluid models may be utilized.
Students interested in this project should be comfortable with or willing to learn to use numerical methods and computers. Theoretically the problem is well defined and a prospective student could quickly go through the theoretical background and literature review alone or with me within the Independent Study course (MEE 597).
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Entrance Region Velocity and Temperature Profiles of Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in Rectangular Ducts
This study is to deal with numerical solution of appropriate second order partial differential equations. The relationship between shear stresses and strains may be assumed in a form of the power law model, which allow for non-Newtonian behavior, but is simple and therefore easy to handle. Different forms of non-Newtonian fluid models may be utilized. The differential equations to be solved are the parabolic type.
Students interested in this project should be comfortable with or willing to learn to use numerical methods and computers. Theoretically the problem is well defined and a prospective student could quickly go through the theoretical background and literature review alone or with me within the Independent Study course (MEE 597).
[Go to TOP]