CV page of Karan Venayagamoorthy

Curriculum Vitae of Subhas Karan Venayagamoorthy

Academic Qualifications

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA, 2006-2007

PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA, 2006

MScEng (cum laude) in Civil Engineering, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, 2002.

BScEng (summa cum laude) in Civil Engineering, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, 2000

Research Interests

I am interested in understanding fundamental fluid dynamics problems and their applications in civil and environmental engineering. To this end, my approach to research involves mainly numerical flow modeling in combination with theoretical and experimental methods, with an emphasis on analysis of fundamental fluid flow processes.

My principal research interests are environmental fluid mechanics, hydraulics, geopohysical fluid dynamics, wind engineering and hydrology. My recent research work has focused on aspects such as breaking internal waves, turbulent mixing in stably stratified flows, sediment transport and water quality modeling. I completed my PhD at Stanford University from the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. My dissertation focused on breaking internal waves using numerical simulations with an emphasis on understanding the energy partitioning and dynamics due to wave breaking.

Teaching Experience

Instructor for Computational Fluid Dynamics for Civil Engineers - (CIVE581 A2) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University (Spring Semester 2009). This first course focuses on providing an in-depth introduction to numerical methods used in computational solutions of hydraulic and wind engineering problems. Course topics include: Introduction to turbulence models and to basic concepts of numerical simulation and computer modeling of turbulent flows in the environment. Application of numerical models in hydraulics, environmental fluid mechanics and wind engineering.

Instructor for Fluid Mechanics - (CIVE300) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Colorado State University (Spring Semester 2009). This is an introductory course in fluid mechanics/hydraulics for Civil Engineers. From water supply to stormwater drainage and flood routing to design of hydraulic structures to pollutant transport, a thorough understanding of civil and environmental engineering systems requires an excellent working knowledge of the fundamentals of fluid mechanics. Course topics include: Fluid properties, hydrostatics, fluid kinematics and governing principles of fluid motion, Reynolda transport theorem and conservation laws, dimensional analysis and similitude, viscous flow in ducts and conduits, flow over immmersed bodies and open channel flow.

Instructor for Engineering Mechanics - Dynamics at Colorado State University (CIVE261, Spring and Fall 2008): This is a class dedicated to understanding a branch of Applied Mechanics often referred to as Dynamics. Topics covered include particle and rigid-body kinematics and kinetics.

Teaching Assistant for Rivers, Streams, and Canals at Stanford University (CEE161/CEE264, Fall 2005, course taught by Dr Derek Fong): This is a class dedicated to understanding a branch of Fluid Mechanics often referred to as Open Channel Flows/Hydraulics. The course covers uniform flow, gradually varied flow and unsteady flow. This class was the given the best rating in the faculty of engineering for this particular quarter.

Teaching Assistant for Modeling Environmental Flows at Stanford University (CEE262C, Spring 2004, course taught by Professor Fringer): Introduction to turbulence models and to basic concepts of numerical simulation and computermodeling of turbulent flows in the environment. Application of models to estuary and lake/reservoir simulations. Use of computer models for estuarine and lake/reservoir dynamics and water quality. The effects of stratification. (this class was also taught via optical fibre link to NTU (Singapore) MS students).

Worked as a Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Natal from January 2001 to August 2002. I formally lectured Structural Analysis (second year BS undergraduate course) and Fluid Mechanics (third year BS undergraduate course) to civil engineering students. Received outstanding student evaluations and best lecturer rating in the department.

Publications and Awards

Articles in refereed journals
1. Stretch, D. D., Rottman, J. W., Venayagamoorthy, S. K., Nomura, K. K. and Rehmann, C. R. 2010. "Mixing efficiency in decaying stably stratified turbulence", Dynamics of Atmospheres and Oceans, 49(2010), pp 25-36 [pdf].
2. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Stretch, D. D. 2009. "On the turbulent Prandtl number in homogeneous stably stratified turbulence", Journal of Fluid Mechanics, in press.
3. Stretch, D. D., and Venayagamoorthy, S. K., 2009. "Diapycnal diffusivities in homogeneous stratified turbulence", submitted.
4. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., Fringer, O. B., Koseff, J. R., Chiu, A. and Naylor, R. L. 2009. "Numerical modeling of aquaculture dissolved waste transport in a coastal embayment", submitted.
5. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2007. "On the formation and propagation of nonlinear internal boluses across a shelf break", Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 577, pp 137-159.
6. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2007. "Internal wave energetics on a shelf break", International Journal of Offshore and Polar Engineering, 17(1), pp 22-29
7. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Stretch, D. D. 2006. "Lagrangian mixing in decaying stably stratified turbulence", Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 564, pp 197-226.
8. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2006. "Numerical Simulations of the interaction of internal gravity waves with a shelf break", Physics of Fluids, 18(7), 076603/9, DOI:10.1063/1.2221863
9. Venayagamoorthy, S. K. and Fringer, O. B. 2005. "Nonhydrostatic and nonlinear contributions to the energy flux budget in nonlinear internal waves", Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L15603, DOI:10.1029/2005GL023432
10. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., Koseff, J. R., Ferziger, J. H., and Shih, L. H. 2003. "Testing of RANS turbulence models for stratified flows based on DNS data", Annual Research Briefs, Center for Turbulence Research, NASA-AMES, pp 127-138.
Conference Proceedings
1. Venayagamoorthy, S. K. and Stretch, D. D. 2009. "On the turbulent Prandtl number in homogeneous stably stratified turbulence", 62nd Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, American Physical Society, 22-24 November 2009, Minneapolis, MN, USA, (oral presentation).
2. Stretch, D. D. and Venayagamoorthy, S. K. 2009. "On the diapycnal di®usivity in homogeneous stably strati¯ed turbulence", 62nd Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, American Physical Society, 22-24 November 2009, Minneapolis, MN, USA, (oral presentation).
3. *Venayagamoorthy, S. K., Fringer, O. B., Koseff, J. R. and Naylor, R. L. 2009. "Simulations of aquaculture dissolved waste transport and mixing in near-coastal waters", proceedings of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009, ASCE, pp 2916-2923
4. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Stretch, D. D. 2008. "Modeling small scale mixing in stably stratified turbulence", Euromech Colloquium 501, "Mixing of coastal, estuarine and riverine shallow flows, 8-11 June 2008, Ancona, Italy, (invited presentation).
5. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., Fringer, O. B., Koseff, J. R. and Naylor, R. L. 2008. "Simulations of mixing and transport of dissolved waste discharged from near-coastal aquaculture pens", Ocean Sciences Meeting, ASLO, TOS and AGU, 2-7 March 2008, Orlando, Florida, USA, (oral presentation - session #:045).
6. *Venayagamoorthy, S. K., Fringer, O. B., Koseff, J. R. and Naylor, R. L. 2007. "Simulations of mixing and transport of dissolved waste discharged from an aquaculture pen", 5th International Symposium on Environmental Hydraulics, 4-7 December, 2007, Phoenix, USA.
7. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., Fringer, O. B., Koseff, J. R. and Naylor, R. L. 2007. "Simulations of mixing and transport of dissolved waste discharged from a submerged aquaculture pen", AGU Joint Assembly meeting, 22-25 May 2007, Acapulco, Mexico, USA, OS23G-02 (oral presentation).
8. *Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2006. "Dynamics of breaking internal gravity waves over a shelf break", Sixth International Symposium on Stratified Flows , 11-14 December 2006, Perth, Australia, (paper accepted for oral presentation).
9. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2006. "Dynamics of internal boluses on a shelf break", 59th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, American Physical Society, 19-21 November 2006, Tampa, USA, (oral presentation).
10. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Stretch, D. D. 2006. "Modeling small scale mixing in stably stratified turbulence", 59th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, American Physical Society, 19-21 November 2006, Tampa, USA, (oral presentation).
11. *Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2006. "Internal wave energetics on a shelf break", Accepted for presentation at ISOPE-2006 San Francisco Conference, May 28 to June 2 2006.
12. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2006. "Dynamics of the interaction of breaking internal gravity waves with a shelf break", Ocean Sciences Meeting, ASLO, TOS and AGU, 20-24 February 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, OS12J-05 (oral presentation).
13. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2005. "Energetics of internal boluses on a shelf break", 58th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, American Physical Society, 20-22 November 2005, Chicago, USA, (oral presentation).
14. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2005. "Numerical simulations of internal gravity waves", Gallery of Fluid Motion Poster (#49), 58th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics, American Physical Society, 20-22 November 2005, Chicago, USA, (poster presentation).
15. *Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2004. "Energy partitioning in breaking internal waves on slopes", 4th International Symposium on Environmental Hydraulics and 14th Congress of the Asia & Pacific Division of the International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research, 15-18 December 2004, Hong Kong, pp 1051- 1057, (oral presentation).
16. Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Fringer, O. B. 2004. "Generation and Evolution of Solibores on Slopes", American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, 13-17 December 2004, San Francisco, OS11A-0498 (poster presentation).
17. *Venayagamoorthy, S. K., Stretch, D. D., Rottman, J. W., and Nomura, K. K. 2002. "Mixing efficiency of turbulence in environmental flows", 1st International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics (HEFAT), 8-10 April 2002, Kruger Park, South Africa, (oral presentation).
18. *Stretch, D. D., Rottman, J. W., Venayagamoorthy, S. K., and Nomura, K. K. 2001. "Transient mixing events in stably stratified turbulence", 14th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 10-14 December 2001, Adelaide, Australia.
*peer-reviewed papers
Talks/Seminars presented
1. Civil Engineering Department, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, September 2004 (invited)
2. Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Stanford University, 6th December 2004 (PhD qualifying exam talk)
3. Department of Ocean Engineering., Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India, 4th January 2005 (invited)
4. Symposium on Current Research in Engineering and Applied Mathematics (SCREAM 2005), SIAM, Stanford Student Chapter, 26 February 2005 - Awarded prize for best speaker.
5. Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Stanford University, 9th June 2006 (University PhD Defense exam talk)
6. Civil Engineering Department, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, 3 July 2006 (invited)
7. Physical Oceanography Dissertation Symposium (PODS IV), Honolulu, Hawaii, 9-12 October 2006 (invited by selection) - Awarded the best speaker prize.
8. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Ohio State University, 15 March 2007 (invited)
9. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Colorado State University, 5 April 2007 (invited)
10. Civil Engineering Department, Auburn University, 12 April 2007 (invited)
11. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, San Jose State University, 16 April 2007 (invited)
12. Environmental Fluid Mechanics Lab, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Stanford University, 26 November 2007 (invited)
13. Coastal and Ocean Engineering Division, Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, 20 March 2008 (invited)
14. Euromech Colloquium Nr. 501,Mixing of Coastal, Estaurine and Riverine Shallow Flows ,Ancona, Italy, June 9-12, 2008 (invited)
15. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Toronto, May 28, 2009.
16. Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Queens University, June 1, 2009.
Awards and Honors
1. Lorenz G. Straub Award for the most meritorious PhD dissertation in hydraulic engineering, ecohydraulics, or related fields., St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, 2009.
2. ASCE ExCEEd Teaching Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2009.
3. Best Speaker award at the Physical Oceanography Dissertation Symposium (PODS IV), Honolulu, Hawaii, 9-12 October 2006 (invitation to attend by selection).
4. Nominated for best paper award at the 16th international conference of the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE) held in San Francisco, May 28 to June 2 2006.
5. Awarded the Offshore Mechanics Scholarship for outstanding achievement at Stanford University by the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE), 2006.
6. Best Speaker award at the Symposium on Current Research in Engineering and Applied Mathematics (SCREAM 2005), SIAM, Stanford Student Chapter, 26 February 2005.
7. Harvey Fellow, Mustard Seed Foundation, 2005.
8. Awarded the S2A3 medal from the South African Association for the Advancement of Science for the most outstanding masters thesis in Science & Engineering for the year 2002 at the University of Natal, South Africa.
9. Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) merit medal for the top graduating engineering student (summa cum laude) in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Natal (2000).
10. Received the University of Natal prestige scholarship for being among the top two undergraduate students in the University for the 1998 and 1999 academic years.
11. Received the Water Institute of Southern Africa prize for the best student in fluid mechanics at University of Natal, 2000.
12. Walter Morgan Thomas Prize for the best final year student in civil engineering, 2000.
13. HA Smith Prize for the highest academic merit in transport, 2000.
14. JR Daymond Prize for the highest academic merit in fluid mechanics, 2000.
15. K Knight Prize for the highest academic merit in foundation engineering, 2000.
16. Dissertation Prize for the best final year research dissertation, 2000.
17. Concrete Society Prize for a meritorious design project involving concrete, 2000.
18. South Institution of Civil Engineering and the Joint Institution of Structural Engineering (UK) Prize for best student in structural engineering, 2000.
19. Received the Dr. Townley William scholarship for the best final year student (excluding the faculty of Medicine) registered in the University for the year 2000.
20. Received the M K Rosenbach Scholarship for outstanding academic merit, 2000.
21. Received the LTA prize for the most outstanding student in the third year class of 1999 in the civil engineering program of University of Natal.

Memberships of Professional Societies

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
American Physical Society (APS)
South African Institution of Civil Engineering
International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE).
EIT (California).

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