Faculty Directory
Neelesh A. Patankar

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and (by courtesy) Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics

Contact

2145 Sheridan Road
Tech L490
Evanston, IL 60208-3109

847-491-3021Email Neelesh Patankar

Website

Patankar Group Computational and Theoretical Fluid Dynamics

Departments

Mechanical Engineering

Affiliations

Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Graduate Program

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Education

Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India


Research Interests

Patankar group research is focused on three primary missions: First, to develop fully resolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques for fluid-structure interaction problems. Second, to use theory and CFD to understand organ physiology (esophagus, aorta, lungs), and to bring mechanics-based analyses and diagnostic tools into clinical practice. Third, to establish the foundational science of controlling phase (anti-icing, anti-frosting, boiling, condensation, non-wetting supehydrophobic surfaces) using surface roughness and chemistry.


Significant Recognition

  • International Conference on Multiphase Flow Junior Award, 2010 (presented once every three years for significant scientific breakthrough(s) in the field of multiphase flow by a researcher younger than 40 years)
  • Defense Science Study Group member (one of fifteen scientists and engineers chosen nation-wide), 2010-2011
  • Associated Student Government Honor Roll for outstanding teaching (one of six chosen from the entire school of engineering), Northwestern University, 2009
  • Honorable mention McCormick Teacher of the Year, 2008
  • NSF CAREER Award, 2002
  • Searle Junior Fellowship, 2001, Searle Center for Teaching Excellence, Northwestern University
  • Certificate of outstanding ability in mathematics (ranked 14th in India), 1988, Indian Mathematics Olympiad Association
  • National talent scholarship, 1987, National Council for Education Research and Training, India

Selected Publications

1. Acharya, Shashank; Halder, Sourav; Carlson, Dustin A.; Kou, Wenjun; Kahrilas, Peter J; Pandolfino, John E; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Assessment of esophageal body peristaltic work using functional lumen imaging probe panometry, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER PHYSIOLOGY https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpgi.00324.2020 2020

2. Zhao, Tom Y.; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Park, Kyoo-Chul; The Thermo-Wetting Instability Driving Leidenfrost Film Collapse, PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES  Volume: 117 Pages: 13331-13328 2020

3. Yao, Y.; Zhao, Tom Y.; Machado, C.; Feldman, Emma; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Park, Kyoo-Chul; Forst_free Zone on Macrotextured Surfaces, PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES  Volume: 117  Pages: 6323-6329 2020

4. Griffith, Boyce E.; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Immersed Methods For Fluid-Structure Interaction, ANNUAL REVIEW OF FLUID MECHANICS Volume: 52 Pages: 421-448 2020

5. Nangia, Nishant; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Bhalla, Amneet Pal Singh; A DLM immersed boundary method based wave-structure interaction solver for high density ratio multiphase flows, JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS Volume: 398  Article number 108804 2019

6. Nangia, Nishant; Griffith, Boyce E.; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Bhalla, Amneet Pal Singh; A Robust Incompressible Navier-Stokes Solver For High Density Ratio Multiphase Flows, JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS  Volume: 390  Pages: 548-594 2019

7. Sprinkle, Brennan; Donev, Aleksandar; Amneet Pal Singh; Patankar, Neelesh A; Brownian Dynamics of Fully Confined Suspensions of Rigid Rarticles Without Green’s Functions, JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS Volume: 150 Article Number: 164116 2019

8. Zhao, Tom Y.; Jones, Paul J.; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Thermodynamics of Sustaining Liquid Water within Rough Icephobic Surface to Achieve Ultra-low Ice Adhesion, SCIENTIFIC REPORTS Volume: 9 Article number 258 2019

9. Patel, Namrata K.; Bhalla, Amneet Pal Singh; Patankar, Neelesh A.; A new constraint-based formulation for hydrodynamically resolved computational neuromechanics of swimming animals, JOURNAL OF COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS  Volume: 375  Pages: 684-716  2018

10. Kou, Walter; Pandolfino, John E; Kahrilas, Peter J; Patankar, Neelesh A; Could the peristaltic transition zone be caused by non‐uniform esophageal muscle fiber architecture? A simulation study, NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY Volume: 29 Article Number: e13022 2017

11. Jones, Paul R; Kirn, Adrian T; Ma, Y David; Rich, Dennis T; Patankar, Neelesh A; The thermodynamics of restoring underwater superhydrophobicity, LANGMUIR Volume: 33 Pages: 2911-2919 2017

12. Nangia, Nishant; Bale, Rahul; Chen, Nelson; Hanna, Yohanna; Patankar, Neelesh A; Optimal specific wavelength for maximum thrust production in undulatory propulsion, PLoS ONE Volume: 12 Article Number: e0179727 2017

13. Bale, Rahul; Neveln, Izaak D.; Bhalla, Amneet Pal Singh; MacIver Malcolm A.; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Convergent Evolution of Mechanically Optimal Locomotion in Aquatic Invertebrates and Vertebrates, PLOS BIOLOGY Volume: 13 Article Number: e1002123 2015

14. Bale, Rahul; Hao, Max; Bhalla, Amneet Pal Singh; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Energy efficiency and allometry of movement of swimming and flying animals, PROC. NAT. ACAD. SCI. Volume: 111 Pages: 7517-7521 2014.

15. Vakarelski, Ivan U.; Patankar, Neelesh A.; Marston, Jeremy O.; et al., Stabilization of Leidenfrost vapour layer by textured superhydrophobic surfaces, NATURE  Volume: 489  Issue: 7415  Pages: 274-277 SEP 13 2012.

In the Classroom

Professor Patankar has taught Engineering Fluid Mechanics (ME 373) and Engineering Analysis III (EA3; Gen Eng 205-3) for undergraduates. He has the EA3 course beginning from spring 2008. He has developed the following graduate courses: Introduction to CFD (ME 423), Advanced Topics in CFD (ME 424), and Design and Analysis of Microfluidic Systems (ME 421). His future course development effort will specifically focus on the hydrodynamics of aquatic locomotion (in the broad context of biology, evolution, neuromechanical modeling, underwater vehicle design, and animation), and on textured surfaces to tune wetting behavior.