Faculty Profiles
Keiko K. Nomura
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Theoretical and computational fluid mechanics, turbulence, transport phenomena, reacting flows and combustion, environmental flows.
Professor Nomura performs detailed computer simulations to investigate the structure and dynamics of turbulence in complex flows such as those that are density stratified or chemically reacting. This information will lead to a better understanding of the physics of turbulence and form the basis of more accurate engineering models. Her work has applications in the areas of aerodynamics, propulsion, environmental engineering, meteorology, and oceanography. Ongoing research projects include direct numerical simulation and wind tunnel studies of stably stratified turbulent flows and mixing, large eddy simulations of oceanic internal waves, and dynamics of vortex pairs. Currently, Nomura is studying the effects of atmospheric stratification and turbulence on aircraft wake vortices in order to better understand and predict the development and breakdown of these flows.
Capsule Bio:
Keiko Nomura joined the faculty of UCSD in 1994 after completing her Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC Irvine. She also held a development engineer position with Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories from 1983-1987. Nomura has received UCSD's Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award, the Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Engineering Teacher Award, and Jacobs School's Teaching Award.