My research applies methods in experimental and computational fluid mechanics to a wide range of applied and biological flows. I plan to continue work on these and other projects that involve the application of engineering methods to complex biological systems and that bring together scientists and engineers from varied disciplines.

Please email me if you're interested in working in my lab, collaborating, or just talking. steven.day@rit.edu

Some Projects

Implantable Blood Pump

For my graduate work at the University of Virginia , I worked on the development of a state-of-the-art implantable blood pump, focusing on experimental measurements of the pump performance and internal fluid dynamics. In addition to mechanical design and miniaturization, the fluid mechanics in blood handling devices is very important. Viscous and turbulent shear stresses can damage the blood that the pump is pumping, so the flow field must be accurately characterized and designed to minimize blood damage.

Figures above: Location of pump within human and photograph of a plastic prototype pump built with optical access to all fluid paths for PIV (particle image velocimetry) measurements.

My group at RIT is continuing work on the design and evaluation of an novel axial flow blood pump in collaboration with the Univeristy of Virginia and private consultants on an NIH funded project lead by Dr. Donald Olsen at the Utah Artificial Heart Institute.

Figures above adapted from A. Untaroiu et al (2005). "Computational design and experimental testing of a novel axial flow lvad." ASAIO Journal 51(6): 702-710

Suction Feeding in Fish

Beginning in 2003, I am collaborating with Peter Wainwright's lab at University of California, Davis on a series of studies involving the complex application of fluid dynamics to suction feeding in fish. Most fish feed by rapidly expanding the mouth with some complex biomechanics. This expansion simultaneously generates negative pressure within the mouth and a flow field external to its head that draws prey towards the mouth. I am interested in the fluid mechanics of this feeding and have measured fluid speeds in different species of fish with PIV and pressures within the mouth cavity.