Tonghun Lee

Tonghun Lee is the Bei Tse Chao and May Chao Professor in Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with affiliations to the Materials Research Lab and Aerospace Engineering. His research focuses on combustion dynamics, hypersonic propulsion, thermal management, and sustainable fuels. Key areas include ignition mechanisms, supersonic combustion flowpaths, and optical diagnostics for high-speed systems.

Education: PhD in Mechanical Engineering (assumed based on faculty role).

Research Interests: Combustion engineering, fluid dynamics, aerospace propulsion systems, thermal-mechanical stress analysis, and sustainable aviation fuels. His work integrates computational modeling (CFD, FEA) with experimental techniques like laser spectroscopy and high-speed imaging.

Recent Trends: Articles emphasize oxygen-enhanced combustion, scramjet flowpath optimization, and biofuel combustion characterization. He explores novel ignition assist devices and materials for extreme environments.

• Awards: ASME Fellow (2020).
• Grants/Advising: Collaborates on emergency ventilator prototypes (2020) and federal energy projects (not detailed).
• Labs/Teams: Leads research in combustion diagnostics and propulsion systems within the Mechanical Science and Engineering Department.