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Earl H. Dowell

William Holland Hall Distinguished Professor
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
185 Hudson Hall, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708-0300
185 Hudson Hall, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708

Research Interests


Aeroelasticity, acoustics, nonlinear dynamics, structural dynamics, and unsteady aerodynamics.

Selected Grants


Aerothermoservoelastic interactions in hypersonic control surfaces

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina State University · 2024 - 2027

Analysis of Non-Synchronous Vibrations and Other Aeromechanical Flow Instabilities Using Novel Frequency-Domain Techniques

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Guide Consortium · 2022 - 2026

Collaborative Research: Experiment, Theory, and Simulation of Aeroelastic Limit Cycle Oscillations for Energy Harvesting Applications

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2019 - 2023

Fluid Structural Thermal Interactions (FSTI) in Hypersonic Flow

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina State University · 2019 - 2023

Building the future of transportation- Hyperloop pod transit system

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by North Carolina State University · 2020 - 2021

Data-driven physics-constrained model reduction of the Navier-Stokes equations

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · 2017 - 2020

Statistical Energy Analysis and Asymptotic Modal Analysis of Nonlinear and Nonconservative Engineering Systems

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2014 - 2018

A New Approach for Reduced Order Modeling of the Direct Navier-Stokes Equations

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2014 - 2018

Reduce Order Airwake Modeling for Aircraft/Ship Integration Modeling and Simulation

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Corvid Technologies · 2017 - 2018

Simulation and Wind-tunnel Experiments of Nonlinear Fluid-Structure Interaction in Transonic and Subsonic Flows

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by US-Israel Binational Science Foundation · 2013 - 2017

Collaborative Research: Power Generation from Fluid-Structure Interaction using Mathematical, Computational and Experimental Modeling

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2013 - 2016

Development of rapid linear and non-linear physics based flutter/LCO analysis methods

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Continuum Dynamics, Inc. · 2015 - 2015

Solarelastic stability of solar sail structures

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2012 - 2014

Nonlinear High Fidelity Aeroelastic Analysis for Novel Configurations

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2009 - 2009

Improved Physical Understanding of Limit Cycle Oscillations in Support of Flight Flutter Testing

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2007 - 2009

An Aeroelastic Analysis Capability for the FUN3D Flow Solver

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2007 - 2009

NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2006 - 2007

Theoretical Prediction of Limit Cycle Oscillations in Support of Flight Flutter Testing

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2004 - 2007

A Study of Uncertainties in Nonlinear Aeroelastic Systems

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2004 - 2006

Funding for Advanced Wind Tunnel Test Equipment to Support Current and Proposed AFOSR/Duke University Research Efforts

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2005 - 2006

WEAVE: Web-based Educational Framework for Analysis, Visualization and Experimentation

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2002 - 2006

Dynamics Days 2004

ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2004 - 2004

Conference on Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamics: Dynamic Days 2004

ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 2003 - 2004

Theoretical Prediction of Limit Cycle Oscillations in Support of Flight Flutter Testing

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2001 - 2003

Limit Cycle Oscillations and Nonlinear Aeroelastic Wing Response: Reduced Order Aerodynamic Models

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2001 - 2003

Dynamics and Control of Nonlinear Fluid-structure Interaction

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1999 - 2002

A Teleconferencing Facility for the Pratt School of Engineering

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2001 - 2002

Acquisition of a Point-to-Point Laser Doppler Vibrometer Measurement System

EquipmentCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 2001 - 2002

Limit Cycle Oscillations and Nonlinear Aeroelastic Wing Response: Reduced Order Aerodynamic Models

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1997 - 2001

The National Journal of Young Investigators

Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 1998 - 2000

Nonlinear Dynamics and Aeroelasticity of Rotocraft in Forward Flight

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1991 - 1999

Nonlinear Dynamics and Control of Wings and Panels

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1996 - 1999

Experimental and Theoretical Aeroelastic Study of a Wing and Control Surface with Free Play

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1994 - 1999

Limit Cycle Oscillations and Nonlinear Aeroelastic Wing Reponse: Reduced Order Aerodynamic Models

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1997 - 1998

Acquisition of a Controlled Strain Rheometer for Studies of Biological Materials

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1996 - 1998

Enabling Hardware Development: CNC Upgrade

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Research Lab for Drug Delivery Systems (Yuan)

Construction/RenovationPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Development of Duke Water Bonding Lab

Construction/RenovationPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Mechanical Engineering Wind Tunnel Repairs (Howle)

Construction/RenovationPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Undergraduate Lab Equip. (Ybarra & George)

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Research in Non Linear Dynamics...(H. Wang)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Research in Novel III-V Semiconductors & Lasers

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Enhancement of Audio Visual Instruction...

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

International Initiative in Science & Engineering

Public ServicePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

Computing Laboratory Infrastructure...

Public ServicePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1997 - 1998

U/G Engineering Course in C++

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1996 - 1998

Phase II Research Start-up Funds (Chilkoti)

Public ServicePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1996 - 1998

Research in Hearing... (Collins)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1996 - 1998

Limit Cycle Oscillations (LCO) and Nonlinear Aeroelastic Wing Response: Reduced Order Aerodynamic Models

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1997 - 1998

Experimental and Theoretical Aeroelastic Study of Wing and Control Surface with Free Play

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1994 - 1997

Nonlinear Dynamics and Control in Aeroelasticity

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1994 - 1996

Speech Processing Mechanisms in Subjects w/Cochlear Implants - Leslie Collins

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1995 - 1996

Acquisition of a Four-Circle X-ray Diffraction System - Chang-Beom Eom

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1995 - 1996

Seismic Response Suppression Using Smart Materials - Henri Gavin

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1995 - 1996

Start-up Equipment - Ashutosh Chilkoti

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1995 - 1996

State of the Art Data Acquisition & Instrumentation Laboratory - Lawrence Virgin

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1995 - 1996

Research in Medical & Biomedical Applications of Microsystems - Richard Fair

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1995 - 1996

Computer & Electrical Equipment - Fred Boadu

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1995 - 1996

Detailed Aquifer Characterization by the Flowmeter Test and the Dipole-Flow - Zbigniew Kabala

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 1995 - 1996

Limit Cycle Oscillations (LCO) and Non-Linear Aeroelastic Wing Response

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1993 - 1995

NASA Undergraduate Student Researchers Program: Underrepresented Minority Focus

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1993 - 1994

Non-linear Dynamics and Aeroelasticity of Rotocraft in Forward Flight

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1991 - 1994

Non-Linear Dynamics and Aeroelasticity of Rotorcraft in Forward Flight

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1991 - 1993

Aeroelastic Turbulence and High-Dimensional Chaos

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research · 1992 - 1993

Engineering Research Equipment: Equipment to Modernize a Subsonic Wind Tunnel for Gust Simulation and Measurement

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 1992 - 1993

Non-Linear Aeroelasticity in Turbomachinery

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1987 - 1993

Asymptotic Modal Analysis of Structural-Acoustic Systems

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 1989 - 1991

Nonlinear Aeroelasticity in Turbomachinery

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1990 - 1991

Asymptotic Modal Analysis and Statistical Energy Analysis

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1987 - 1991

A Study of Structural Acoustic Systems Using Asymptotic Modal Analysis

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1988 - 1991

Asymptotic Modal Analysis of Structural Acoustic Systems

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 1989 - 1990

The Study of Structural-Acoustic Systems Using the Asymptotic Modal Analysis

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 2027 - 1990

Dynamics and Aeroelastic Stability of Rotor Systems

ConferencePrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1989 - 1990

Unsteady Separated Flow Models for Stall Flutter Analysis in Turbomachinery

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1987 - 1990

Chaos in Mechanical Systems with Especial Reference to Rotorcraft and Missiles

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1987 - 1990

Chaos in Mechanical Systems with Especial Reference to Rotarcraft and Misseles.

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1987 - 1990

Asymptotic Modal Analysis and Statistical Energy Analysis

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1986 - 1989

The Study of Structural-Acoustic Systems Using Aymptotic Model Analysis

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1988 - 1989

Unsteady Separated Flow Models for Stall Flutter Analysis in Turbo Machinery

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1986 - 1989

Chaos in Mechanical Systems with Special Reference to Rotorcraft and Missles

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Army Research Office · 1987 - 1989

Dynamics of Non-Linear and Nonconservative Systems With Several Degrees of Freedom

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 1985 - 1988

Asymptotic Model Analysis and Statistical Energy Analysis

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Aeronautics and Space Administration · 1986 - 1987

External Relationships


  • Oxford University
  • Professor Aiming Shi, Northwestern Polytechnic University in Xian
  • University of Southern California

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies, institutions, or organizations listed above. This information is available to institutional leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.