Tommi Mikkola

Tommi Mikkola is a University Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics at Aalto University, with a career spanning roles from summer trainee to postdoctoral researcher at the Ship Laboratory of Helsinki University of Technology. He focuses on advancing fluid mechanics education through systematic, student-centered approaches, emphasizing interactive learning and critical thinking. His research expertise includes computational fluid dynamics (CFD), ship hydrodynamics, and hydrodynamic interactions in maritime systems. Mikkola has contributed extensively to understanding ship stability, ice-structure interactions, and fluid-structure coupling in extreme conditions. His work bridges theoretical models with practical applications, addressing challenges like parametric roll resonance, air lubrication systems, and accidental load evaluations in maritime operations.

His academic journey reflects a strong commitment to both education and research innovation. Current projects involve developing efficient numerical methods for predicting hydrodynamic behaviors, such as wave-structure interactions and slamming impacts. He collaborates on boundary element methods and FSI modeling to enhance ship design and safety standards. Despite no explicit mentions of awards or grants, his publications indicate active engagement in advancing naval architecture and marine engineering disciplines.

Notable research interests include: optimizing computational models for marine systems, analyzing ship dynamics in extreme sea states, and improving teaching methodologies in fluid mechanics. His recent studies cover topics like energy-based ice load evaluation, two-way coupled FSI simulations for grounding incidents, and asymmetry in hull structural responses. These efforts aim to improve maritime safety, energy efficiency, and operational reliability through rigorous hydrodynamic analysis.