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Dr. Gavelli has over 15 years of experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, as a developer, user, and instructor. He applies his expertise to modeling fires in buildings as well as outdoors, for the purpose of evaluating fire growth, temperature distribution, and the spread of smoke, toxic gases, and particulates. He also has extensive experience with CFD modeling of the atmospheric dispersion of gaseous releases from non-fire sources, and in particular Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vapor cloud dispersion.
Dr. Gavelli specializes in the analysis of heat transfer and fluid flow phenomena, including multiphase flows and cryogenic fluids such as LNG. His LNG project experience includes risk assessment and LNG hazard analysis for onshore and offshore LNG terminals. He has extensive experience with the analysis of LNG vapor dispersion and fire hazards using state-of-the-art modeling tools, and is the author of a number of LNG safety-related papers. He is also member of several LNG-related technical committees and expert panels.
Dr. Gavelli also specializes in the engineering analysis and investigation of fires and explosions; he has investigated numerous losses involving all major forms of transportation, boiler and furnace explosions, and fires involving consumer products. He has also conducted third-party reviews of combustion systems for the entertainment industry. He has analytical as well as experimental experience with the acoustical analysis of gas turbines.
Dr. Gavelli has applied his expertise to projects such as the study of the thermal-hydraulic behavior of a Pressurized Water Reactor during a Loss-Of-Coolant-Accident (LOCA) and the modeling and analysis of turbulent flows in complex geometries. He has also developed non-invasive flow visualization methods and tools based on laser diagnostic techniques such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), and Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF), for use in his work.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Gavelli held the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he taught the thermal sciences and performed research with support from federal agencies including the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. | 