Dr. Liewkongsataporn’s Ph.D. Thesis Title:
“A Numerical Study of Pulse-Combustor Jet Impingement Heat Transfer”

Dr. Liewkongsataporn entered the IPST’s “Direct-to-Ph. D.” Graduate Education Program in 2001.  In 2006 Wichit received his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech (amidst advisor changes and the integration of IPST into Georgia Tech). His M.S. thesis title was: “Characteristics of Pulsating Flows in a Pulse Combustor Tailpipe”. In March of 2008 Wichit received his PH. D. in Paper Science and Engineering from IPST - Georgia Tech.

According to Ph. D. advisor, Dr. Tim Patterson, “Wichit has been the ideal PhD student…working diligently on his research … exhibiting the ability to critically analyze his research and that of others …while demonstrating his ability to develop both experimental and analytical research plans and altering those plans based upon new findings…And he able to articulate in both written and oral form the rationale behind his research and defend the technical aspects of his research”

Ph.D. Advisor, Dr. Fred Ahrens states: “I have advised Ph.D. students at the Institute of Paper Chemistry, the University of Missouri, IPST and IPST/GT, and I consider Wichit to be the best Ph.D. student I have had the opportunity to advise ... Wichit displays many desirable qualities … he is creative, thorough, hardworking, has excellent insight, communicates very well, and shows an unusual level of dedication for quality work.”
Some of Dr. Liewkongsataporn notable accomplishments while in the IPST graduate education program include:

1. Co-Authored three refereed research publications, two in “Drying Technology”, and one in the “Journal of Fluids Engineering”;
2. Developed a simplified model of Helmholtz pulse combustors;
3. Designed numerical experiments for pulsating jet impingement heat transfer on stationary and moving surfaces;
4. Performed CFD simulations with “Fluent” software for steady and pulsating jet impingement heat transfer;
5. Evaluated the effects of pulsation frequency, mean velocity, tailpipe width, and surface velocity on pulsating jet impingement heat transfer, and
6. Identified mechanisms of impingement heat transfer enhancement by pulsating jets.