Dr. Ruiz’s areas of expertise include heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, propulsion, design and construction of mechanical systems, and nanotechnology.
She has experience in the development, design, and construction of a self propelled submarine. The propeller driven submarine was capable of producing both steady and unsteady jet propulsion akin to a squid and jellyfish. Her work has included the implementation of instrumentation to monitor forces, velocity, and power consumption. In addition, she has gained knowledge of the benefits of biological propulsion through her analysis of thrust, impulse, and propulsive efficiency.
In addition, Dr. Ruiz has worked in the Aerospace industry. She has analyzed test data for turbomachinery and satellites. She also has experience with the development and construction of a facility to grow carbon nanotubes using chemical vapor deposition.
Ruiz LA, Whittlesey RW, Dabiri JO. Vortex-enhanced propulsion. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 2011, in press. doi:10.1017/S0022112010004908.
Ruiz L. The role of unsteady hydrodynamics in the propulsive performance of a self-propelled bio-inspired vehicle. Doctoral Dissertation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 2010.
Presentations
Ruiz L, Dabiri JO. The role of unsteady hydrodynamics in the propulsive performance of a self-propelled bio-inspired vehicle. 3nd Southern California Symposium on Flow Physics, University of California San Diego, CA, April 18, 2009.
Ruiz L, Dabiri JO. Propulsive performance comparison of a steady and unsteady self-propelled swimmer. Bulletin of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting, San Antonio, TX, November 23–25, 2008.
Trevino L, Dabiri JO. Experimental comparison of a steady and unsteady self‐propelled swimmer. International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Adelaide, Australia, August 24–29, 2008.
Trevino L, Dabiri JO. Experimental comparison of a steady and unsteady self‐propelled swimmer. 2nd Southern California Symposium on Flow Physics, University of California Los Angeles, April 12, 2008.
Trevino L, Dabiri JO. Experimental comparison of steady and unsteady propulsion of a self‐propelled swimmer. Bulletin of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, November 18–20, 2007.
Sansom E, Trevino L, Gharib M, Noca F. Controlled patterning of carbon nanotube arrays using liquids‐toward capillography. Bulletin of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting, Chicago, IL, November 20–22, 2005.
Trevino L, Cortelezzi L, Alves L, Karagozian A. Numerical simulation of jets in crossflow. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Research and Technology Review, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, May 2, 2003.
Trevino L, Majamaki A, Smith O, Karagozian A. Modeling and high speed experiments on lobed injector mixing and reaction processes. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Research and Technology Review, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 2002.
Trevino L, Kang Y, Willis J. Experimental study of the enhancement of the efficiency of a recuperator in a micro turbine engine. University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees Symposium, University of California, Riverside, CA, March 1–3, 2002.