Advanced Computations
General Information about the Research
Advanced-computations research in chemical engineering involves
the use of high-performance computing to address problems important
to our discipline. The applications are widely varying, but all
require advanced computing techniques because of challenges such
as solving millions of simulations equations, performing rapid 3D
visualization using hundreds of gigabytes of data, or performing
rigorous multiscale modeling. The research is cross disciplinary
because of the need to bring together experts in computational modeling,
numerical methods, and fundamental science.
At LSU, professors and students involved in computational research
benefit from outstanding resources – both facilities and personnel.
LSU is home to two supercomputers (Super Mike, which is a 512-node,
dual-processor, linux system, and Super Helix, which is a similar
128-node system devoted to research in the bio sciences), Pelican,
which a 14-node IBM Power5 network, and numerous smaller clusters
(see LSU
High Performance Computing for details). On the personnel side,
LSU’s Center
for Computation and Technology employs a large and diverse staff
that ranges from world-class researchers to graphics specialists
to hardware technicians. CCT
is leading efforts in grid computing, optical networking, algorithm
development, and more.
In our Department, advanced computing is being used for computational
fluid dynamics, materials characterization, computational biology,
chemical reactor design, process design and optimization. Graduate
students are involved with multidisciplinary research through formal
programs such as the NSF
IGERT on computational fluid dynamics, industrial partnerships
such as the PoreSim
Consortium, and collaborations that involve research partners
around the nation and the world.
Professors Involved
Prof.
Karsten E. Thompson
Professor Thompson’s research group focuses on computational
modeling of flow and structure in porous materials. Applications
include oil & gas production, membrane separations, advanced
materials (solid foams and composite fibrous materials), and marine
and environmental applications. A partial list of current projects
is listed below. See www.poresim.org
for more information:
- Multi-scale modeling techniques: sub-pore scale to Darcy scale
flows
- Automatic meshing techniques from 3D computed tomography images
- Modeling interfacial behavior in porous materials
- Inertial flows in porous materials
- The motion and trapping of non-spherical particles in constricted
channels
Prof.
Martin A. Hjortsø
Simulation of biological systems
Prof.
Ralph W. Pike
Simulation of fluid mixing and reaction processes
Prof.
José A. Romagnoli
Process Systems Engineering at LSU
Prof.
Francisco R. Hung
Nanoporous materials and confined systems, liquid crystals, self-
and
directed assembly at the nanoscale, computational modeling and
molecular simulation.
This page was last updated on May 7, 2008. |