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Andreas P. Panayi

Research Assistant
Michigan State University
Automotive Research Experiment Station
140 Engineering Research Complex - South
East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Tel: (517) 355-1789
Fax: (517) 432-3341

andreas@egr.msu.edu

General Information

Research Interests

  • Internal combustion engine modeling and design
  • Piston and piston-ring dynamics and tribology
  • Elastohydrodynamic lubrication
  • Finite element methods
  • Optimization Methods
  • Computational fluid dynamics applied to airfoil flows for ground vehicles

    • Education

  • PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University as of May 2006
  • MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, May 2006
  • BSc in Mechanical Engineering, University of Vermont, May 2004
  • HND in Mechanical Enginnering, Higher Technical Institute, Cyprus, June 2000

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    Experience

    My PhD dissertation will be on the dynamics of the cylinder-kit of four stroke internal combustion engines, with Dr Harold Schock being my advisor. It will cover three areas, piston dynamics, ring dynamics, and optimization of skirt profiles.

    So far I have developed a numerical model for the estimation of piston dynamics, PIFEAD (Piston Finite Element Analysis and Dynamics). This model is novel, as it considers the piston secondary motion along the wrist-pin plane and not only in the thrust plane as traditional numerical models do. It is useful when investigating the effects of asymmetric bore deformations, especially when using new generation pistons that feature uneven thrust sides. It can predict piston axial and secondary motion (in the three dimensions), piston lateral loads, skirt and second land wear. The model is developed in FORTRAN and MATLAB.

    Also I have developed an optimization algorithm, pARSM (pseudo-Adaptive Response Surface Method), in collaboration with Dr. Alejandro Diaz. It is intended to be used in conjunction with ''black-box'' piston dynamics numerical models for the optimization of piston skirt profiles, however, it can be easily modified to be used for a variety of problems requiring expensive computations with ''black-box'' codes. This algorithm optimizes piston skirt profiles for minimal noise, while maintaining the net friction work done on the skirt below a prescribed level, given a constrained design space. The algorithm is developed in MATLAB and it has been successfully used with PIFEAD.

    Currently I am working on the development of a coupled ring dynamics and gas dynamics numerical model. More information on this topic will follow. It will be developed in FORTRAN and MATLAB.

    During my PhD research I also had the chance to counsel and assist Mid-Michigan Research LLC (MMR), in the development of PISTON, a commercial analysis tool for piston dynamics. PISTON is a module of CASE (Cylinder-kit Analysis System for Engines) and it is written in FORTRAN. In January 2008 I was offered a part-time internship with MMR.

    All these gave me the opportunity to interact with leading engine manufacturers as well as the motorsport industry. These include Ford Motor Company, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar, and Bill Davis Racing (NASCAR). I have worked on specific projects involving piston dynamics and ring dynamics for Ford Motor Company, Cummins, and Bill Davis Racing.

    At the University of Vermont I was involved in fluid dynamics both computationally and experimentally. I worked on a project investigating the effects of angle of attack of a Formula 1 rear wing on downforce and drag. This was a computational project carried out using Fluent. I also worked on Hot Wire Anemometry where I developed, built and setup a laboratory experiment for juniors. The system could be used to demonstrate the calibration of a hot wire anemometer, the velocity profiles of pipe flow, and turbulence growth in a jet stream. The data acquisition and data manipulation were developed in LabView.

    At the Higher Technical Institute (HTI) I worked on the development of a Multimedia Interactive Courseware Package on Internal Combustion Engines, covering the different types of internal combustion engines, focusing on reciprocating engines, their components and functions, as well as some combustion fundamentals. The package was intended to be used as study companion for Plant Engineering I in order to introduce students to internal combustion engines. During my years at HTI as part of the industrial experience program I got the chance to intern at several companies in their mechanical engineering departments. These include, Cyprus Petroleum Refinery Ltd, General Army Staff in Greece, The Cyprus Import Corporation (Mercedes-Benz division), and Photos Photiades Breweries Ltd.

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