Yun Liu

Yun (Tom) Liu is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University Northwest, specializing in fluid mechanics and renewable energy. He earned his Ph.D. from Purdue University (2016) and joined PNW in 2017. His research focuses on bio-fluid mechanics, 3D flow visualization, and multiphase systems, with notable work on insect flight dynamics and wind turbine wakes.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2016
• M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, 2011
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, 2008

Research Interests: Combines experimental and numerical methods to study complex flows in biological systems, renewable energy, and industrial processes. Key areas include:

• Insect flight aerodynamics using Schlieren photography
• Wind turbine wake behavior and wind farm optimization
• Supercavitation and underwater propulsion systems
• Gas-stirred ladle furnace hydrodynamics

Awards & Grants:

• NSF Major Research Instrumentation Grant (2019)
• Catalyst Grant Award ($7K), PNW (2018)
• Proposal Submission Grant, PNW (2020)

Lab & Teams: Leads experimental fluid dynamics research using advanced techniques like PIV, Schlieren imaging, and neural network modeling. Collaborates on bio-inspired design and renewable energy systems.