Profiles

Cecile Devaud is a professor in mechanical and mechatronics engineering. She is also a member of Waterloo Engineering’s Fire Research Group and the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy.

Her research group focuses on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for turbulent reacting flows. They are interested in developing and implementing new mathematical models for problems related to turbulent mixing, flame stabilization and emissions. Applications are diverse; ranging from aero and automotive engines to fire scenario analysis. More recently, some research activities have been devoted to numerical simulations of two-phase flows and compartment fires related to the nuclear industry.

Professor Devaud has special interest in using simulation to understand the relationship between turbulence and fire, specifically how turbulence can reduce or intensify fire, how fire can increase turbulence, and how these processes contribute to the growth or extinction of fires. She also studies the more subtle dangers of fire, such as toxic gases like carbon monoxide and particulates like soot. The implications of her research are practical and result in greater safety for firefighters and those they rescue.

Professor Devaud holds a US patent along with Waterloo professors – Amir Khajepour, A. Fazeli and A. Nasser for “Air hybrid engine with a plurality of air tanks".

Amir H. Mahdipour received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Iran, in 2017 and 2021, respectively, prior to joining the turbulent combustion modeling lab at the University of Waterloo for his Ph.D. studies in January 2022. Currently, he works under the supervision of Prof. Devaud in the Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Department. His research currently focuses on turbulent combustion modeling using the CSE model for non-premixed flames.

Amir had previously worked on exploring computational aspects of the CSE model using a DNS database of a premixed flame and currently works on improving this model for turbulent combustion modeling in RANS and LES, based on his experience with the DNS database.

The research group focuses on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for turbulent reacting flows. The lab develops and implements new mathematical models for issues related to turbulent mixing, flame stabilization, and emissions.

Ophelie Lesage is a Master's student at the University of Waterloo's Department of Chemical Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Eric Croiset and Prof. Cecile Devaud.

She graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree in Chemical Engineering in 2022. Her thesis is on the topic of modeling the usage of hydrogen as a fuel in reheat furnaces in the steel industry using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modeling with OpenFOAM.