Lawrence M. Matta, Ph.D., P.E., CFEI

Dr. Matta is an engineer and a certified fire and explosion investigator specializing in combustion, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics. He applies his expertise to the investigation of fires, explosions, chemical releases, and equipment failures. His investigation experience includes residential, commercial, and industrial fires and explosions, ranging from appliances, HVAC equipment, and consumer products to gas pipelines, power plants, and refineries. Dr. Matta has investigated fires involving engine powered vehicles and equipment. He has also investigated workplace accidents including chair failures, drilling rig accidents, and chemical exposures. Dr. Matta also has research experience in pulse combustion and combustion instabilities, rockets, incineration, and commercial drying and heating systems.

Haussmann GJ, Matta LM. Flammable vapor ignition by engine exhaust systems. Journal of Applied Fire Science 2002–2003; 11(4):335–348.

Matta LM, Neumeier Y, Lemon B, Zinn BT. Characteristics of micro-scale diffusion flames. Proceedings, Combustion Institute, 29th International Symposium on Combustion, Sapporo, Japan, 2002.

Kan T, Matta LM, Jagoda JI, Zinn BT. Combustion of solid in acoustically excited, high Reynolds number flows. Proceedings, Combustion Institute 2000; 28:2709–2716, Part 2.

McAllister DV, Cros F, Davis SP, Matta LM, Prausnitz MR, Allen MG. Three dimensional hollow microneedle and microtube arrays. Transducers 99, The 10th International Conference on Solid-State Sensors and Actuators, Vol. 2, pp. 1098–1101, Sendai, Japan, June 7–10, 1999

Matta LM, Zinn BT, Jagoda JI. experimental study of acoustic velocity effects on simulated solid fuel pyrolysis. AIAA Journal 1997; 35(9):1493–1498, September.

Matta LM, Zhu C, Jagoda JI, Zinn BT. Mixing by resonant acoustic driving in a closed chamber. Journal of Propulsion and Power 1996; 12(2):366–370, March–April.

Sujith RI, Matta LM. On the Eigenvalues of the wave equation for a duct with an axial mean temperature gradient. Journal of the Aeronautical Society of India 1995; 47(4):222–226, November.

Matta LM, Zinn BT. Study of the flow turning loss in a simulated solid rocket motor. Journal of Propulsion and Power 1995; 11(2):278–284, March/April.

Matta LM. Investigation of the flow turning loss in unstable solid propellant rocket motors. Ph.D. Thesis, School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1993.

Conference Papers

Matta LM, Nan M, Davis SP, McAllister DV, Zinn BT, Allen MG. Miniature excess enthalpy combustor for microscale power generation. AIAA Paper No. 2001-0978, Aerospace Sciences Meeting, January 2001

Dutko A, Matta LM, Scarborough DE, Zinn BT. Acoustic enhancement of water spray evaporation within a pulse combustor. AIAA Paper No. 2000-0595, Aerospace Sciences Meeting, January 2000.

Kan T, Matta LM, Jagoda JI, Zinn BT. Effects of acoustic oscillations on solid combustion at different Reynolds numbers. AIAA Paper No. 99-0345, 1999.

Kan T, Matta LM, Jagoda JI, Zinn BT. Combustion of solids in an acoustic field. AIAA Paper No. 98-0559, 1998.

Matta LM, Johnson CE, Jagoda JI, Zinn BT. Jet mixing enhancement using acoustically induced swirling bifurcation. AIAA Paper No. 97-0148, 1997.

Matta LM, Zinn BT, Jagoda JI. Experimental study of acoustic velocity effects on solid fuel pyrolysis. AIAA Paper No. 96-2886, 1996.

Matta LM, Wuersig H, Choung A, Jagoda JI, Zinn BT. Excitation of a round jet by transverse standing acoustic oscillations. AIAA Paper No. 96-0642, 1996.

Sujith RI, Matta LM. On the Eigenvalues of the wave equation for a duct with an axial mean temperature gradient. 47th Annual General Meeting of the Aeronautical Society of India, January 1996.

Matta LM, Zhu C, Jagoda JI, Zinn BT. Gas phase mixing due to resonant acoustic oscillations in a cavity. AIAA Paper No. 95-0496, 1995.

Matta LM, Zinn BT. Theoretical study of flow turning losses in the presence of mean temperature gradients. AIAA Paper No. 94-0099, 1994.

Matta LM, Zinn BT. Investigation of flow turning loss in a simulated unstable solid propellant rocket motor. AIAA Paper No. 93-0115, 1993.

Matta LM, Zinn BT. Experimental investigation of flow turning losses in unstable rocket motors. 29th JANNAF Combustion Subcommittee Meeting, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, October 19–23, 1992.

Matta LM, Zinn BT, Daniel BR. Theoretical investigation of flow turning losses in an experimental setup which simulates instabilities in solid propellant rocket motors. AIAA Paper No. 92-0780, 1992.

Matta LM, Zinn BT, Daniel BR. Theoretical investigation of flow turning losses in unstable solid propellant rocket motors. 28th JANNAF Combustion Meeting, San Antonio, TX, October 28–November 1, 1991.

Presentations

Matta LM. Development of a miniature excess enthalpy combustor for microscale power generation. DARPA/MTO Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Principal Investigators Meeting, Boston, MA, August 23–25, 2000.

Matta LM. Progress on control of sludge destruction in shipboard incinerators. annual review meeting of the ONR SERDP Compact Incinerator Program. Carderock Division Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock, MD, November 18, 1997.

Matta LM. Investigation of flame-acoustic wave interaction during axial solid rocket instabilities. AFOSR Contractors Meeting, Boulder, CO, June 10–14, 1991.

• Vice President of Research and Development, Heat Technologies, Inc., 1997–2001
• Research Engineer II, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1996–2001
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1993–1996
• Graduate Research Assistant, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1988–1993
  
  

• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (senior member)
• National Fire Protection Association (member)
• Combustion Institute (member)
• National Association of Fire Investigators (member)