fbpx Dan Fries | University of Kentucky College of Engineering

Appointments

2025 - present: Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Kentucky

2020 – 2024: Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Research Associate, Department of Aerospace Engineering & Engineering Mechanics & Oden Institute, The University of Texas at Austin


Education

Ph.D.,Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia, Aerospace Engineering with Minor in Mathematics, 2020

Diplom/M.Sc,University of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, Aerospace Engineering, 2014

M.Sc., Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia, Aerospace Engineering,2013


Research Description

My research seeks to enable high-speed flight, new propulsion concepts, re-entry technologies, and the reduction of associated environmental pollutants. To make significant progress in these areas, my lab implements plasmas and plasma generators more strongly into the testing and design of aerospace applications. The research is multi-disciplinary and focuses on experimental and modeling work for high-speed and high-enthalpy flows, aerothermodynamics, plasma physics, plasma chemistry, and combustion. To study relevant environments, my lab utilizes and develops advanced optical and laser diagnostics, spectroscopic methods, low-order physical models, and the inversion of measurement models.

Research Interests

  • High-enthalpy and high-speed flows
  • Aerothermodynamics & aerothermochemistry
  • Plasma and combustion chemistry
  • Plasma physics
  • Re-entry
  • Propulsion
  • Emission reduction
  • Laser diagnostics and spectroscopy
  • Inversion of measurement models