Gaby Ciccarelli PhD, P.Eng

Professor

Faculty, Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Phone: 613-533-2586
Fax: 613-533-6489
McLaughlin Hall, Room: 322


Expertise: Combustion, Gasdynamics
Gaby Ciccarelli
Biography Research Teaching Publications Awards & Grants
Dr. Ciccarelli is an assistant professor at Queen's University in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His teaching interests lie in the general area of thermal/fluids. His research is in the field of combustion and explosion physics. This includes the study of high-speed combustion phenomena such as accelerated flames and detonation waves. He also does applied research for Pulse Detonation Engines and explosion prevention. His research is carried out in the Explosion Physics and Prevention Laboratory located in McLaughlin Hall. 
He completed his graduate studies at McGill University, in the Shock Wave Physics Group of the Mechanical Engineering Department. Both his PhD and Master's thesis dealt with the study of fundamental aspects of "Vapor Explosions." Specifically he investigated the fragmentation mechanism involved in the interaction of single droplets of hot molten metal in water and the propagation of such interactions through a linear array of droplets. After completing his PhD in 1991 he moved on to Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in New York where he started as a Post Doctoral Fellow and in 1993 received a continuing appointment under the title of research engineer. When he first arrived at BNL he became involved in a program sponsored by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Japanese Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC) investigating the "hydrogen explosion problem" associated with severe-accidents in nuclear power plants. The program objectives was to determine the effect of elevated temperature on detonation phenomenoa in mixtures of hydrogen, air, and steam. To meet the objectives of this program the Small-Scale Developmental Apparatus (SSDA) and the High-Temperature Combustion Facility (HTCF) were constructed. Both apparatus have the unique capability for performing combustion tests using gases at initial temperatures up to 800F. The hydrogen program lasted for roughly six years, subsequently the two apparatus were used for research in chemical process safety sponsored by the DuPont Company. At BNL he was also involved in the development of RAPTOR, a device used to breakup concrete pavement via the impact of high-speed projectiles. For his contribution to the development of RAPTOR, he was awarded the 2000 Discover Magazine Award for Technical Innovation. Dr. Ciccarelli started his academic career at Queen's University in July, 2000. 

Areas of Research 

Research interests include the study of fundamental and practical aspects of various gaseous explosion and high-speed combustion phenomena. Examples of such phenomenon include turbulent flame propagation, flame acceleration, detonation waves, gasdynamics, and shock waves. Many of these phenomenon have direct application to industrial explosion safety, aircraft propulsion, and other practical devices. The experimental research is carried out in the Explosion Physics and Prevention Laboratory located in room 109 of McLaughlin Hall. The laboratory will be equipped with a detonation tube and high-speed data acquisition and computer control systems. 
Current Projects 
  • Detonability of liquid fuels in air at elevated initial temperature 
  • Dispersion of micro sized metal particles by the passage of a shock wave 
  • Syngas fueled compression ignition engine with diesel pilot injection
     

 
  • MECH 230 Thermodynamics 
  • MECH 435 Applied Combustion 
  • MECH 832 Combustion Dynamics 

Papers in Refereed Journals: 

  • Ciccarelli, C. Johansen and M. Parravani, Transition in the Propagation Mechanism during Flame Acceleration in Porous Media, 33(2): 2273-2278, 2011
  • Johansen, G. Ciccarelli, Numerical Simulations of the Flow Field Ahead of an Accelerating Flame in an Obstructed Channel, Combustion, Theory and Modeling, 14(2):235-255, 2010
  • Ciccarelli, C. Johansen, and M. Parravani, The Role of Shock-Flame Interactions on Flame Acceleration in an Obstacle Laden Channel, Combustion and Flame, 157(11): 2125-2136, 2010
  • Ciccarelli, S. Reynolds and P. Oliver, Development of a Novel Passive Top-Down Uniflow Scavenged Two-Stroke GDI Engine, Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 34:217-226, 2010.
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, Visualization of the unburned gas flow field ahead of an accelerating flame in an obstructed square channel, Combustion and Flame, Volume 156 (2):405-416, 2009.
  • Ciccarelli, S. Hlouschko, C. Johansen, J. Karnesky and J.E. Shepherd, The study of geometric effects on the explosion front propagation in a horizontal channel with a layer of spherical beads, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 32(2):2299-2306, 2009
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, Combustion in a horizontal channel partially filled with porous media, Shock Waves, 18(2): 97-106, 2008.
  • Hlouschko and G. Ciccarelli, Interaction of a High-Speed Combustion Front with a Closely Packed Bed of Spheres, Shock Waves 18(4): 317-327, 2008.
  • Ciccarelli and S. Dorofeev, Flame Acceleration and Transition to Detonation in Ducts, Progress in Combustion Science, 34(4): 499-550, 2008.
  • Rival and G. Ciccarelli, "An Investigation into the Interaction of Closely Spaced Starting Jets," Experimental Thermal and Fluid Sciences, 31, 1157-1164, 2007
  • Joo, K. Duncan and G. Ciccarelli, "Flame Quenching Performance of Ceramic Foam," Combustion Science and Technology, 178(10-11):1755, 2006
  • Ciccarelli and B. deWitt, "Detonation Initiation by Shock Reflection from an Orifice Plate," Shock Waves, 15(3-4):259, 2006
  • Ciccarelli and J. Card, "Detonations in Mixtures of JP-10 Vapor and Air," AIAA Journal, 44(2):362-367, 2006
  • Ciccarelli, D. Jackson, J. Verreault, Flammability Limit Studies of NH3-H2-N2-AIR mixtures at Elevated Initial Temperatures," Combustion and Flame, 144 (1-2):53-63, 2006
  • Ciccarelli, C. Johansen, M. Hickey, "Flame Acceleration Enhancement by Distributed Ignition Points," Journal of Propulsion and Power, 21:6, 2005
  • Ciccarelli, C. Fowler, M. Bardon, Shock Reflection Detonation Initiation Studies for PDEs," Journal of Propulsion and Power, 21:6, 2005
  • Card, D. Rival, G. Ciccarelli, "DDT in Fuel-Air Mixtures at Elevated Temperatures," Shock Waves, 14:3, pp. 167-173, 2005
  • Ciccarelli, C. Fowler, and M. Bardon, "Effects of Obstacle Size and Spacing on the Initial Stage of Flame Acceleration in a Rough Tube," Shock Waves, 14:3, pp. 161-166, 2005.
  • Kuznetsov, G. Ciccarelli, S. Dorofeev, V. Alekseev,Y. Yankin, T. Kim, "DDT in Methane-Air Mixtures," Shock Waves, 12:3, pp. 215-220, 2002.
  • Ciccarelli, "Critical Tube Measurements at Elevated Initial Temperatures," Combustion Science and Technology, 174, pp. 173-183, 2002.
  • Ciccarelli, V. M. Fthanakis and J.L. Boccio, "A Method of Analysis for Gas Explosions: Hydrogen-Selenide Case Study," Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industry, 12, pp, 157-165, 1999
  • Ciccarelli, and J. L. Boccio, "Detonation Wave Propagation Through a Single Orifice Plate in a Circular Tube," Proceedings of the Combustion Institute Vol. 27, 1998.
  • Ciccarelli, T. Ginsberg, J. Boccio, "The influence of Initial Temperature on the Detonability Characteristics of Hydrogen-Air-Steam Mixtures," Combustion Science and Technology, 128, 1-6, p. 181, 1997.
  • Ciccarelli, J. Boccio, T. Ginsberg and H. Tagawa, "The influence of Initial Temperature on Flame Acceleration and Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition," Proceedings of the Combustion Institute Vol. 26, 1996.
  • Ciccarelli, D. L. Frost and B. Bruckert, "Effect of Boundary Conditions on the Propagation of a Vapor Explosion in Stratified Molton Tin/Water Systems," Nucl. Eng. Design, 155, pp. 311-333, 1995.
  • Ciccarelli, T. Ginsberg, J. L. Boccio, C. Economos, K. Sato and M. Kinoshita, "Detonation Cell Size Measurements and Predictions in Hydrogen-Air-Steam Mixtures at Elevated Temperatures", Combustion and Flame, 99, pp. 212-220, 1994.
  • Ciccarelli and D. L, Frost, "Fragmentation Mechanisms Based on Single-Drop Experiments Using Flash X-Ray Photography," Nucl. Eng. Design, 146, pp, 109-132, 1994.

Papers in Conference Proceedings: 

  • Spaeth and G. Ciccarelli, An Investigation of the Flow through Check Valves in a Uniflow-Type Tow-Stroke Engine CICS, Carleton, 2010
  • Fraser and G. Ciccarelli, An Investigation of the Flow through Check Valves in a Uniflow-Type Tow-Stroke Engine CICS, Carleton, 2010
  • Johansen, G. Ciccarelli, Numerical Simulations of the Flow Field Ahead of an Accelerating Flame in an Obstructed Channel, presented at ICDERS, Minsk Belarus, 2009.
  • Ciccarelli, C. Johansen, and M. Parravani, The Role of Shock-Flame Interactions on Flame Acceleration in an Obstacle Laden Channel, presented at ICDERS, Minsk Belarus, 2009.
  • Johansen, G. Ciccarelli The investigation of shock flame interactions on flame acceleration in obstructed channels, CICS, U. of Montreal, 2009
  • Ciccarelli, S. Hlouschko, C. Johansen, J. Karnesky and J.E. Shepherd, The study of geometric effects on the explosion front propagation in a horizontal channel with a layer of spherical beads, International Combustion Symposium, Montreal, July 2008
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, Investigation of the Combustion Phenomenoa in a Horizontal Channel Partially Filled with Pourous Media, CICS Spring Technical Meeting, Toronto, May, 2008
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, Investigation of the Combustion Phenomenoa in a Horizontal Channel Partially Filled with Pourous Media, Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Meeting, Toronto, May, 2008
  • Hlouschko and G. Ciccarelli, The Effect of Gap Height Above a Layer of Porous Material on Detonation Initiation in a Horizontal Channel, CICS Spring Technical Meeting, Toronto, May, 2008
  • Oliver and G. Ciccarelli, Validating the Numerical Model of Passive Check Valves in a Novel Uniflow-Scavenged Two-Stroke Engine CICS Spring Technical Meeting, Toronto, May, 2008
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, Characterization of the Flow Field Ahead of a Flame Propagating in an Obstructed Channel, International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosive and Reactive Systems, Poitiers, France, July 2007
  • Hlouschkho and G. Ciccarelli, Transmission of a combustion front into a porous media, International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosive and Reactive Systems, Poitiers, France, July 2007
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, Combustion in a Horizontal Channel Partially Filled with Porous Media, Intermational Symposium on Shock Waves, Göttingen, Germany, July 2007
  • Oliver and G. Ciccarelli, Numerical Investigation of Passive Intake Check Valves in a Uniflow-Scavenged Two-Stroke Engine, CICS Spring Technical Meeting, Banff, May, 2007
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, Investigation of the Flow Field Ahead of a Flame Front in an Obstacle Laden Channel, CICS Spring Technical Meeting, Banff, May, 2007
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, Investigation of the key mechanisms involved in the flame acceleration processes in an obstacle laden tube, 31st International Combustion Symposium, Heidelberg, Germany, August 2006
  • Oliver, S. Reyniolds, G. Ciccarelli, Flowbench Calibration of a Numerical Model for a Novel Uniflow-Scavenged Two-Stroke GDI Engine," SAE Power Train Conference, Toronto, 2006
  • Johansen and G. Ciccarelli, "Effect of mixture reactivity on flame acceleration in an obstacle laden-channel," CICS Spring Technical Meeting, Waterloo, May, 2006
  • Oliver and G. Ciccarelli, "Numerical investigation of scavenging flow in a uniflow-scavenged two-stroke engine," CICS Spring Technical Meeting, Waterloo, May, 2006
  • Reynolds and G. Ciccarelli, "Investigation of Intake Airflow for a Novel Uniflow-Scavenged Two-Stroke GDI Engine," CICS Spring Technical Meeting, Waterloo, May, 2006
  • Ohlmann, S. Reynolds, and G. Ciccarelli, "Development of a Novel Uniflow-Scavenged Two-Stroke GDI Engine," SAE World Congress, Detroit MI, April 2006.
  • Rival and G. Ciccarelli," Evaluation of Scavenging Performance in a Novel Two Stroke GDI Engine," SAE World Congress, Detroit MI, April 2006.
  • D.Rival and G. Ciccarelli," Numerical Investigation of the Scavenging Process in a Novel Two-Stroke Engine for Hybrid Electric Vehicles," European Automotive CFD Conference, Frankfurt, Germany, June 2005.
  • Ciccarelli and B. deWitt, "Detonation Initiation by Shock Reflection from an Orifice Plate," International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Montreal, Canada, July 2005.
  • Joo and G. Ciccarelli, "Flame Quenching Performance of Ceramic Foams," International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Montreal, Canada, July 2005.
  • Ciccarelli and J. Card, "Detonation Cell Size Measurements for Gaseous Mixtures of JP-10 and Air," AIAA/SAE/ASME Joint Propulsion Conference," AIAA-4212, Tucson, AZ, July 2005.
  • Ohlmann and G. Ciccarelli, "Development of a Novel Uniflow Two-Stroke GDI Engine," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Halifax, NS, May 2005.
  • Rival and G. Ciccarelli, "Numerical Investigation into Scavenging Efficiency of Prototypical Two-Stroke Engines," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Halifax, NS, May 2005.
  • Joo and G. Ciccarelli," "Flame Quenching Performance of Ceramic Foams," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Halifax, NS, May 2005.
  • Ciccarelli, B. deWitt, F. Zhang, S. Murray, "Shock Reflection Detonation Initiation Studies," AIAA/SAE/ASME Joint Propulsion Conference," AIAA-3747, Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 2004.
  • Ciccarelli, M. Hickey, M. Bardon, D. Gardiner, "Investigation of Flame Acceleration Enhancement for a PDE Initiation System," AIAA/SAE/ASME Joint Propulsion Conference," AIAA-3746, Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 2004.
  • Card and G. Ciccarelli, "Detonation Properties of JP-10 in Air at Elevated Temperatures and Pressures," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Queen's University, May 2004.
  • Ciccarelli, C. Fowler, and M. Bardon, "Effects of Obstacle Size and Spacing on the Initial Stage of Flame Acceleration," International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Hakone, Japan, July 2003.
  • Card, D. Rival, G. Ciccarelli, "DDT in Fuel-Air Mixtures at Elevated Temperatures," International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Hakone, Japan, July 2003.
  • deWitt, G. Ciccarelli, F. Zhang, S. Murray, "Detonation Initiation Studies for Pulse Detonation Engines," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Vancouver BC, May 2003.
  • Jackson and G. Ciccarelli, "Flammability Limits in Hydrogen-Ammonia-Air Mixtures at Elevated Temperatures," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Vancouver BC, May 2003
  • Ciccarelli and P. Dubocage, "Flame Acceleration in Fuel-Air Mixtures at Elevated Initial Temperatures" AIAA/SAE/ASME Joint Propulsion Conference, Indianapolis, IN, June 2002.
  • Fowler, G Ciccarelli, M. Bardon, "Effect of Obstacle Size and Spacing on Flame Acceleration," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Windsor ON, May 2002.
  • C. Hickey, G. Ciccarelli, D. Gardiner, M. Bardon, "The Reduction of Detonation Run-Up Distance Using a Multi-Point Ignition System," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Windsor ON, May 2002.
  • Jackson and G. Ciccarelli, "Flammability Limits in NH3-Air Mixtures at Elevated Temperatures," Combustion Institute/Canadian Section Spring Technical Meeting, Windsor ON, May 2002.
  • Johansen, G. Ciccarelli and D. Rival, "Projectile Launcher Noise Suppression" CSME Forum, Kingston, ON, May 2002
  • Ciccarelli, "Critical Tube Measurements at Elevated Initial Temperatures," International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Seattle WA, 2001.
  • Kuznetsov, G. Ciccarelli, S. Dorofeev, V. Alekseev, Yu. Yankin, and T. H. Kim, "DDT in Methane-Air Mixtures, International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems, Seattle WA, 2001.
  • Ginsberg, G. Ciccarelli, and J. Boccio, "Design Safety Features of the BNL High-Temperature Combustion Facility", Hydrogen Conference, China, 2000.
  • Ciccarelli, "Explosion Analysis for the RHIC PHENIX Detector International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Explosion, Nashville, Tennessee, Nov. 1999.
  • Ciccarelli, et al., T. Ginsberg, "Experiments on Detonation of Hydrogen-Steam-Air Mixtures at Elevated Temperature," ICENES, June 1998.
  • Ciccarelli, et al., "Hydrogen Detonation and Detonation Transition Data From the HTCF," Proceedings of the 23rd Water Reactor Safety Information Meeting, Bethesda, Maryland, 1995, NRC Report, NUREG/CP-0149, Vol. 2, pp, 53-64, March 1996.
  • Ciccarelli, T. Ginsberg, et al., "Initial Hydrogen Detonation Data from the High-Temperature Combustion Facility", Proceedings of the 22nd Water Reactor Safety Information Meeting, Bethesda, Maryland, 1994, NCR Report, NUREG/CP-0140, Vol. 2, pp, 53-64, April 1995.
  • Ciccarelli, J. L. Boccio, T. Ginsberg, "High-Temperature Combustion Facility Present Capabilities and Future Prospects," Proceedings of the Zel'dovich Memorial, Vol. 1, 1995.
  • Ciccarelli et al., "High-Temperature Hydrogen-Air-Steam Detonation Experiments in the BNL Small-Scale Development Apparatus", Proceedings of the 21st Water Reactor Safety Information Meeting, Bethesda, Maryland, 1993, NRC Report NUREG/CP-0133, Vol. 2, pp, 543-558, 1994.
  • Ciccarelli, D. L. frost and P. Watts, "Flash X-Ray Visualization of the Steam Explosion of a Molten Metal Drop," Dynamic Aspects of Explosion Phenomena (editions A. L. Kuhl, J- C. Leyer, A. A. Borisov and W. A. Sirignano), 154, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA Press, pp. 388-420, 1993.
  • Ciccarelli, and D. L. Frost, "Implications for the Existence of Thermal Detonations from Equilibrium Hugoniot Analysis," Dynamic Aspects of Explosion Phenomena, (editors A.L. Kuhl, J. -C. Leyer, A. A, Borisov and W. A. Sirignano), 154, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA Press, pp. 362-387, 1993.
  • Ciccarelli and D. L. Frost, "The Effect of Fluid Flow Velocity on the Fragmentation Mechanism of a Hot Melt Drop," Dynamic Aspects of Explosion Phenomena (editors A. L. Kuhl, J. -C Leyer, A. A, Borisov and W. A. Sirignano), 154, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA Press, pp. 334-361, 1993.
  • RAPTOR winner of the 2000 Discover Magazine's Award for Technical Innovation! 



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