Krishna Pillai

Krishna Pillai is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), affiliated with the College of Engineering. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Delaware (1997), and M.Tech and B.Tech degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology (1991 and 1988).

Research Interests: Pillai specializes in flow and transport phenomena in porous media, including wicking mechanisms, evaporation of multicomponent liquids, and computational fluid mechanics. His work spans polymer and metal-matrix composites, with a focus on modeling liquid motion in fiber beds and porous substrates. Key areas include:

• Modeling liquid absorption and drying in porous materials
• Optimizing composite manufacturing processes (e.g., pressure infiltration, liquid composite molding)
• Investigating thermal and fluid dynamics in industrial applications

Publications: His recent work emphasizes porous media applications, such as novel filtration systems, hybrid fabrics for heat transfer, and low-cost monitoring devices. He has contributed to advancements in composite materials, including green composites using cellulose nanofibers and bio-based epoxies.

Grants and Advising: No specific grants or student advising details are provided, though his extensive co-authorship suggests active collaboration with researchers like Rani El-Hajjar and Z. Xu.

Labs/Teams: Pillai’s research likely involves collaborations within UWM’s mechanical engineering labs and external partnerships in composite materials and porous media studies.