Steve Gorrell

Steve Gorrell is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU), College of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University (2001), an M.S. from Virginia Tech (1990), and a B.S. from BYU (1988). Prior to his academic career, he served as a Senior Aerospace Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) from 1989 to 2007, where he conducted advanced research in propulsion and turbomachinery.

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2001
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1990
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, 1988

His research is centered on experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), with a strong focus on turbomachinery systems including compressors, turbines, and fans. He investigates unsteady flow phenomena such as stator-rotor interactions, inlet distortion, wake-shock dynamics, and cavitation. His work integrates high-fidelity CFD simulations with experimental techniques like Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to validate models and improve design methodologies. He also contributes to engineering education, particularly in collaborative and multi-university design projects.

The most recent publications highlight a consistent trend in high-fidelity, time-accurate CFD analysis of unsteady flows in turbomachinery. Key themes include blade-row interactions, inlet distortion transfer, vortex dynamics, and feature extraction in simulations. His work frequently appears in ASME and AIAA journals and conferences, emphasizing both experimental validation and computational innovation.

Notable awards include the Department of the Air Force Award for Civilian Achievement (2007), AIAA Associate Fellow (2007), AFRL Scientific/Technical Achievement Award (2006), and multiple honors for engineering education and collaboration (2013–2015). He also received the NASA Group Achievement Award (2003) and the Dayton-Cincinnati Aerospace Science Symposium Best Turbomachinery Paper (2002).

• Department of the Air Force Award for Civilian Achievement, 2007
• AIAA Associate Fellow, 2007
• AFRL Scientific/Technical Achievement Award, 2006
• NASA Group Achievement Award, 2003
• Best Paper, Dayton-Cincinnati Symposium, 2002
• Outstanding Faculty Award, BYU ME, 2015
• Best Overall Award, ASME IAM3D Challenge, 2014
• AFOSR Summer Faculty Fellowship, 2013

Steve Gorrell has advised numerous graduate students on theses related to CFD, compressor and turbine design, and flow simulation. He has served as a principal investigator or collaborator on various research grants, particularly in high-performance computing and propulsion systems. His professional service includes editorial roles (Associate Editor, ASME, 2014–2018), committee leadership in AIAA and ASME, and extensive peer review for NSF, DOE, and other agencies. He has been actively involved in multi-university collaborative education initiatives, such as the PACE program.

He leads a research group focused on computational and experimental fluid dynamics in turbomachinery, often collaborating with national labs and industry partners. His team employs advanced CFD solvers and data mining tools to extract meaningful features from complex simulations. The integration of computational science with engineering education remains a key component of his lab’s mission.