Kevin D. Cole

(402) 472-5857

E-mail: kcole1@unl.edu

• Ph.D., 1986 Michigan State University
• M.S.,  1979 University of Minnesota
• B.S.,   1977 Iowa State University

Dr. Cole has developed a laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study anemometers, hot-film sensors, and properties of thermal protective systems. he has conducted research for Sanida National Laboratories, United Technologies, NASA, and the Army Research Office (ARO). Dr. Cole is co-author of a reference book on heat conduction and maintains a Web site devoted to Green's Functions. Dr. Cole is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and is a registered professional engineer.

Research Interests:

Web-based Interactive Green's Functions

Objective: to improve the interactive portion of the Web site, which assembles analytical solutions, on demand, based on user input. The Green's Function Library, established in 1999, is intended for engineers, scientists, mathematicians, geologists, or anyone working with linear differential equations of the diffusion type. For more information, visit http://www.greensfunction.unl.edu.

Hot Film Sensors for Air Flow

Objective: to imporve air-flow measurements with flush mounted heat-based sensors. Current work includes wind-tunnel studies, analytical modeling, and data analysis.

Heat Conduction Models for Thermal Measurements

Objective: to find computational efficient models of thermal-measurement geometries. Heat conduction theory based on Green's Functions provides alternate analytical expressions that can be used to verify accuracy and improve computational efficiency.

Inverse Problems and Design of Optimal Experiments

Objective: to determine the best way to measure properties of new materials. With a theoretical model, a variety of simulated experiments can be studied to find the best experimental procedure.

Book:

• Beck, J. V., Cole, K. D., Haji-Sheikh, A., and Litkouhi, B., "Heat Conduction Using Green's Functions," Series in Computational and Physical Processes in Thermal Sciences, W.J. Minkowycz and E.M. Sparrow, editors, Hemisphere Publishing Corp., New York, 523 pages, 1992.

Selected Journal Papers:

• Cole, K. D., "Steady-periodic Green's Functions and Thermal-measurement Applications in Rectangular Coordinates," Journal of Heat Transfer, vol. 128, no. 7, pp. 709 - 716, 2006.
• Crittenden, P. E. and Cole, K. D., "Design of Experiments for Thermal Characterization of Metallic Foams," AIAA J. of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 367-374, 2005.
• Cole, K. D., “Computer Programs for Temperature in Fins and Slab Bodies with the Method of Green’s Functions”, Computer Applications in Engineering Education, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 189-197, 2004.
• Cole, K. D., “Analysis of Photothermal Characterization of Layered Materials—Design of Optimal Experiments,” International Journal of Thermophysics, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 1567-1584, 2004.
• Cole, K. D., “Fast-converging Series for Steady Heat Conduction in the Circular Cylinder", Journal of Engineering Mathematics, vol. 49, pp. 217-232, 2004.  
• Cole, K. D., Thermal Characterization of Functionally Graded Materials—Design of Optimal Experiments,  AIAA J. of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer, vol.18, No. 3, pp. 289-294, 2004.
  
• Crittenden, P. E. and Cole, K. D., “Fast-Converging Steady-State Heat Conduction in the Rectangular Parallelepiped,” International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 45, pp 3585-3596, 2002.
• Cole, K. D., and Yen, D. H. Y., "Green's Functions, Temperature, and Heat Flux in the Rectangle,"  International J. of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 44, no. 20, pp. 3883-3894, 2001.
• Cole, K. D., and Yen, D. H. Y., "Influence Functions for the Infinite and Semi-infinite Strip", AIAA J. of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer,  vol. 15, no. 4, pp 431-438, 2001.
• Harman, S., and Cole, K. D., "Conjugate Heat Transfer from a Two-component Wall for Electronic Cooling,"  J. of Electronic Packaging, vol. 123, no. 2, pp. 156-158, 2001.
• Cole, K. D., "Conjugate Heat Transfer from a Small Heated Strip", International J. Heat Mass Transfer, Vol. 40, no. 11, pp. 2709-2719, 1997.
• McGahan, W. A. and Cole, K. D., "Solutions of the Heat Conduction Equation in Multilayers for Photothermal Deflection Experiments", J. of Applied Physics, Vol. 72, No. 4, pp. 1362-1373, 1992.

Refereed Conference Papers:

• Cole, K. D., "Flush-mounted Steady-periodic Heated Film with Application to Fluid-flow Measurement," Proceedings, International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Chicago, IL, Nov. 2006.
• Cole, K. D., “Analysis of Pulse Heating on a Fluid-cooled Surface for Fluid Shear Stress,” International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, New Orleans, LA, November 2002.
• Cole, K. D. and Crittenden, P. E., "Heat Conduction in Cartesian Coordinates and a Library of Green's Functions," 35th National Heat Transfer Conference, Anaheim, California, June 10-12, 2001.
• Cole, K. D., "Thermal Properties of Honeycomb Panels--Analysis of Transient Experiments with One-Dimensional Models," Proceedings of the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Anaheim, CA, Vol. 5, pp. 83-93, 1998.