Laurens E. Howle | Scholars@Duke

Laurens E. Howle
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Professor Howle's research interests span the disciplines of thermal science, fluid dynamics, and nonlinear dynamics. His present research projects - visualization of convective fluid patterns, stabilization of the no-motion state in free convection and bifurcation in imperfect or distributed parameter systems - are split evenly between experimental and computational methods.

A key problem facing researchers studying convection in fluid-saturated porous media is the lack of a general, non-invasive method for pattern visualization and wave number measurement. Professor Howle designed innovative porous media which allow optical techniques to be used for the first time as a pattern visualization tool in the study of porous media convection.

Computational spectral methods are efficient methods of simulation of small aspect ratio convection systems. For large problems, these methods can become too expensive to be practical. Professor Howle developed a reduced Galerkin method which decreases the execution time by orders of magnitude for large problems. This extends the range of problems for which certain spectral methods may be used. He is currently studying porous free convection in systems with distributed properties and binary convection using the reduced Galerkin method.

Current Research Interests

Hydroelastic modeling of deformable structures, transport in thermal and chemical systems, experimental and computational fluid dynamics, nonlinear and complex systems, heat and mass transport in biological systems, stability of fluid motions, machine learning, data mining, econophysics, reduced order modeling, modeling of decompression sickness, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, mechanical design, manufacturing engineering, wind power.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering 2000
Associate Professor of Radiology, Radiology, Clinical Science Departments 2014
Associate Professor in the Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment 2018
Faculty Network Member of The Energy Initiative, Duke University Energy Initiative, Initiatives 2012

Contact Information

239 Hudson Eng Bldg, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708-0300
239 Hudson Hall, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708-0300
laurens.howle@duke.edu (919) 660-5331

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Duke University 1993
Duke Appointment History
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering 1993 - 2000
Recognition
In the News
- MAR 20, 2017 Pratt School of Engineering
  
  Predicting How Bad the Bends Will Be
Awards & Honors
- Fellows. American Society of Mechanical Engineers. 2012
Research
Selected Grants
- Altitude Study awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command 2017 - 2019
- Advances in Probabilistic Decompression Models and Real-Time Profile Optimization awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command 2017 - 2019
- Revised Budget: Transfer of Duke Dive Trial Data-JIT for SPS 233417 awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command 2017 - 2018
- Graduate Fellowship to Strengthen Navy Capabilities in Probabilistic Decompression Modeling awarded by Office of Naval Research 2013 - 2017
- Advances in Probabilistic Decompression Models and Decompression Scheduling awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command 2013 - 2016
- Development of a Propeller and Flapping Wing Test Stand and Associated Instrumentation awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina 2002 - 2005
- Engineering Study of Carangiform Swimming - Reduction to Practice awarded by Office of Naval Research 1999 - 2002
- Innovations in Medical Ultrasound Imaging awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina 1999 - 2002
- Investigations into Micro-Scale Heat Transfer and CAD Tools for Thermal Management in Deep-Submicron Integrated Circuits awarded by National Science Foundation 2000
- (97-0930) Undergraduate Laboratory Renovations awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina 1997 - 1998
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Journal Articles
  - Howle, LE, Kraus, SD, Werner, TB, and Nowacek, DP. "Simulation of the entanglement of a North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) with fixed fishing gear(Accepted)." Marine Mammal Science (January 1, 2018). Full Text
  - Murphy, FG, Hada, EA, Doolette, DJ, and Howle, LE. "Probabilistic pharmacokinetic models of decompression sickness in humans: Part 2, coupled perfusion-diffusion models." Computers in Biology and Medicine 92 (January 2018): 90-97. Full Text
  - Murphy, FG, Swingler, AJ, Gerth, WA, and Howle, LE. "Iso-risk air no decompression limits after scoring marginal decompression sickness cases as non-events." Computers in Biology and Medicine 92 (January 2018): 110-117. Full Text
  - King, AE, Murphy, FG, and Howle, LE. "Bimodal decompression sickness onset times are not related to dive type or event severity." Computers in biology and medicine 91 (December 2017): 59-68. Full Text
  - Murphy, FG, Hada, EA, Doolette, DJ, and Howle, LE. "Probabilistic pharmacokinetic models of decompression sickness in humans, part 1: Coupled perfusion-limited compartments." Computers in biology and medicine 86 (July 2017): 55-64. Full Text
  - Howle, LE, Weber, PW, and Nichols, JM. "Bayesian approach to decompression sickness model parameter estimation." Computers in biology and medicine 82 (March 2017): 3-11. Full Text
  - Fiore, G, Anderson, E, Garborg, CS, Murray, M, Johnson, M, Moore, MJ, Howle, L, and Shorter, KA. "From the track to the ocean: Using flow control to improve marine bio-logging tags for cetaceans." PloS one 12, no. 2 (January 2017): e0170962-. Full Text
  - Howle, LE, Weber, PW, Hada, EA, Vann, RD, and Denoble, PJ. "The probability and severity of decompression sickness." PloS one 12, no. 3 (January 2017): e0172665-. Full Text
  - Alex Shorter, K, Murray, MM, Johnson, M, Moore, M, and Howle, LE. "Drag of suction cup tags on swimming animals: Modeling and measurement." Marine Mammal Science 30, no. 2 (January 1, 2014): 726-746. Full Text
  - Balmer, BC, Wells, RS, Howle, LE, Barleycorn, AA, McLellan, WA, Ann Pabst, D, Rowles, TK, Schwacke, LH, Townsend, FI, Westgate, AJ, and Zolman, ES. "Advances in cetacean telemetry: A review of single-pin transmitter attachment techniques on small cetaceans and development of a new satellite-linked transmitter design." Marine Mammal Science 30, no. 2 (January 1, 2014): 656-673. Full Text
  - Weber, PW, Howle, LE, Murray, MM, Reidenberg, JS, and Fish, FE. "Hydrodynamic performance of the flippers of large-bodied cetaceans in relation to locomotor ecology." Marine Mammal Science 30, no. 2 (January 1, 2014): 413-432. Full Text
  - Alex Shorter, K, Murray, MM, Johnson, M, Moore, M, and Howle, LE. "Drag of suction cup tags on swimming animals: Modeling and measurement." Marine Mammal Science (2013).
  - Balmer, BC, Wells, RS, Howle, LE, Barleycorn, AA, Mcclellan, WA, Ann Pabst, D, Rowles, TK, Schwacke, LH, Townsend, FI, Westgate, AJ, and Zolman, ES. "Advances in cetacean telemetry: A review of single-pin transmitter attachment techniques on small cetaceans and development of a new satellite-linked transmitter design." Marine Mammal Science (2013).
  - Howle, LE. "Analytic gain in probabilistic decompression sickness models." Computers in Biology and Medicine 43, no. 11 (2013): 1739-1747. Full Text
  - Weber, PW, Howle, LE, Murray, MM, Reidenberg, JS, and Fish, FE. "Hydrodynamic performance of the flippers of large-bodied cetaceans in relation to locomotor ecology." Marine Mammal Science (2013). Full Text
  - Bashir, MR, Weber, PW, Husarik, DB, Howle, LE, and Nelson, RC. "Improved aortic enhancement in CT angiography using slope-based triggering with table speed optimization: a pilot study." Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 28, no. 6 (August 2012): 1533-1543. Full Text Link to Item
  - Husarik, DB, Bashir, MR, Weber, PW, Nichols, EB, Howle, LE, Merkle, EM, and Nelson, RC. "Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography: first-pass arterial enhancement as a function of gadolinium-chelate concentration, and the saline chaser volume and injection rate." Invest Radiol 47, no. 2 (February 2012): 121-127. Full Text Link to Item
  - Fish, FE, Weber, PW, Murray, MM, and Howle, LE. "The tubercles on humpback whales' flippers: application of bio-inspired technology." Integrative and Comparative Biology 51, no. 1 (July 2011): 203-213. Full Text
  - Weber, PW, Howle, LE, Murray, MM, and Corless, JM. "A simplified mass-transfer model for visual pigments in amphibian retinal-cone outer segments." Biophys J 100, no. 3 (February 2, 2011): 525-534. Full Text Link to Item
  - Fish, FE, Weber, PW, Howle, LE, Murray, MM, and Reidenberg, JS. "Hydrodynamic performance of the flippers of large-bodied cetaceans." Secondary Adaptation of Tetrapods to Life in Water (2011). (Academic Article)
  - Fish, FE, Weber, PW, Murray, MM, and Howle, LE. "Marine applications of the biomimetic humpback whale flipper." Marine Technology Society Journal 45, no. 4 (2011): 198-207. Full Text
  - Weber, PW, Howle, LE, Murray, MM, and Miklosovic, DS. "Computational evaluation of the performance of lifting surfaces with leading-edge protuberances." Journal of Aircraft 48, no. 2 (2011): 591-600. Full Text
  - Macha, DB, Nelson, RC, Howle, LE, Hollingsworth, JW, and Schindera, ST. "Response." Radiology 255, no. 2 (2010): 662--. Full Text
  - Weber, PW, Howle, LE, and Murray, MM. "Lift, drag, and cavitation onset on rudders with leading-edge tubercles." Marine Technology 47, no. 1 (2010): 27-36.
  - Coursey, CA, Nelson, RC, Weber, PW, Howle, LE, Nichols, EB, Marin, D, and DeLong, D. "Contrast material administration protocols for 64-MDCT angiography: altering volume and rate and use of a saline chaser to better match the imaging window--physiologic phantom study." AJR Am J Roentgenol 193, no. 6 (December 2009): 1568-1575. Full Text Link to Item
  - Howle, LE, Weber, PW, and Vann, RD. "A computationally advantageous system for fitting probabilistic decompression models to empirical data." Comput Biol Med 39, no. 12 (December 2009): 1117-1129. Full Text Link to Item
  - Macha, DB, Nelson, RC, Howle, LE, Hollingsworth, JW, and Schindera, ST. "Central venous catheter integrity during mechanical power injection of iodinated contrast medium." Radiology 253, no. 3 (December 2009): 870-878. Full Text
  - Weber, PW, Murray, MM, Howle, LE, and Fish, FE. "Comparison of real and idealized cetacean flippers." Bioinspir Biomim 4, no. 4 (December 2009): 046001-. Full Text Link to Item
  - Howle, LE, Weber, PW, Vann, RD, and Campbell, MC. "Marginal DCS events: their relation to decompression and use in DCS models." Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 107, no. 5 (November 2009): 1539-1547. Full Text
  - Weber, PW, Coursey, CA, Howle, LE, Nelson, RC, Nichols, EB, and Schindera, ST. "Modifying peripheral IV catheters with side holes and side slits results in favorable changes in fluid dynamic properties during the injection of iodinated contrast material." AJR Am J Roentgenol 193, no. 4 (October 2009): 970-977. Full Text Link to Item
  - Weber, PW, Howle, LE, Murray, MM, and Fish, FE. "Lift and drag performance of odontocete cetacean flippers." JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 212, no. 14 (July 15, 2009): 2149-2158. Full Text Link to Item
  - Vann, RD, Denoble, PJ, Howle, LE, Weber, PW, Freiberger, JJ, and Pieper, CF. "Resolution and severity in decompression illness." Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 80, no. 5 (May 2009): 466-471. (Review) Full Text
  - Vann, RD, Denoble, PJ, Howle, LE, Weber, PW, Freiberger, JJ, and Pieper, CF. "Resolution and severity in decompression illness." Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 80, no. 5 PART 1 (May 1, 2009): 466-471. (Review) Full Text
  - Fish, FE, Timm, LL, Murray, MM, and Howle, LE. "Ecological morphology of the flippers of cetaceans based on two-dimensional geometry." INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY 49 (February 2009): E229-E229. Link to Item
  - Fish, FE, Howle, LE, and Murray, MM. "Hydrodynamic flow control in marine mammals." Integrative and Comparative Biology 48, no. 6 (December 2008): 788-800. Full Text
  - Schindera, ST, Nelson, RC, Howle, L, Nichols, E, DeLong, DM, and Merkle, EM. "Effect of varying injection rates of a saline chaser on aortic enhancement in CT angiography: phantom study." Eur Radiol 18, no. 8 (August 2008): 1683-1689. Full Text Link to Item
  - Schindera, ST, Nelson, RC, Howle, L, Nichols, E, DeLong, DM, and Merkle, EM. "Effect of varying injection rates of a saline chaser on aortic enhancement in CT angiography: Phantom study." European Radiology 18, no. 8 (2008): 1683-1689. Full Text
  - Miklosovic, DS, Murray, MM, and Howle, LE. "Experimental evaluation of sinusoidal leading edges." Journal of Aircraft 44, no. 4 (2007): 1404-1408. Full Text
  - Miklosovic, DS, Murray, MM, Howle, LE, and Fish, FE. "Leading-edge tubercles delay stall on humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) flippers." Physics of Fluids 16, no. 5 (May 2004): L39-L42. Full Text
  - Fish, FE, Miklosovic, DS, Murray, MM, and Howle, LE. "Delayed stall due to leading edge tubercles of the humpback whale flipper." INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY 43, no. 6 (December 2003): 903-903. Link to Item
  - Murray, MM, and Howle, LE. "Spring stiffness influence on an oscillating propulsor." Journal of Fluids and Structures 17, no. 7 (2003): 915-926. Full Text
  - Wagner, BA, Bertozzi, AL, and Howle, LE. "Positive feedback control of Rayleigh-Bénard convection." Discrete and Continuous Dynamical Systems - Series B 3, no. 4 (2003): 619-642.
  - Hasik, MJ, Kim, DH, Howle, LE, Needham, D, and Prush, DP. "Evaluation of synthetic phospholipid ultrasound contrast agents." Ultrasonics 40, no. 9 (November 2002): 973-982. Link to Item
  - Howle, LE. "The effect of boundary properties on controlled Rayleigh-Benard convection." Journal of Fluid Mechanics 411 (2000): 39-58.
  - Craciunescu, OI, Howle, LE, and Clegg, ST. "Experimental evaluation of the thermal properties of two tissue equivalent phantom materials." Int J Hyperthermia 15, no. 6 (November 1999): 509-518. Link to Item
  - Chen, D, Wang, HO, and Howle, LE. "Bifurcation control of Rayleigh-Benard convection." IEEE Conference on Control Applications - Proceedings 1 (1999): 377-382.
  - II, MRG, and Howle, LE. "Effects of anisotropy and boundary plates on the critical values of a porous medium heated from below." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 42, no. 18 (1999): 3419-3430. Full Text
  - Chen, D, Wang, HO, Howle, LE, Gustafson, MR, and Meressi, T. "Amplitude control of bifurcations and application to Rayleigh-Benard convection." Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Decision and Control 2 (1998): 1951-1956.
  - Howle, L, Schaeffer, DG, Shearer, M, and Zhong, P. "Lithotripsy: The Treatment of Kidney Stones with Shock Waves." Siam Review 40, no. 2 (January 1998): 356-371. Full Text
  - Howle, LE. "Linear stability analysis of controlled Rayleigh-Benard convection using shadowgraphic measurement." PHYSICS OF FLUIDS 9, no. 11 (November 1997): 3111-3113. Full Text Link to Item
  - Howle, LE, Behringer, RP, and Georgiadis, JG. "Convection and flow in porous media. Part 2. Visualization by shadowgraph." Journal of Fluid Mechanics 332 (1997): 247-262.
  - Howle, LE. "Control of Rayleigh-Bénard convection in a small aspect ratio container." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 40, no. 4 (1997): 817-822.
  - Howle, LE. "Active control of Rayleigh-Bénard convection." Physics of Fluids 9, no. 7 (1997): 1861-1863.
  - Murray, MM, Tong, HL, Howle, LE, and Zhong, P. "Response to a lithotripter shock wave of a cavitation bubble surrounded by a viscoelastic membrane." American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fluids Engineering Division (Publication) Fed 21 (January 1, 1997).
  - Howle, LE. "A comparison of the reduced Galerkin and pseudo-spectral methods for simulation of steady Rayleigh-Bénard convection." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 39, no. 12 (1996): 2401-2407. Full Text
  - II, MRG, and Howle, LE. "Control of Rayleigh-Benard convection in small aspect ratio containers." American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fluids Engineering Division (Publication) FED 216 (1995): 77-81.
  - Howle, LE, and Georgiadis, JG. "Natural convection in porous media with anisotropic dispersive thermal conductivity." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 37, no. 7 (1994): 1081-1094.
  - Howle, LE. "Efficient implementation of a finite-difference/Galerkin method for simulation of large aspect ratio convection." Numerical Heat Transfer, Part B: Fundamentals 26, no. 1 (1994): 105-114.
  - Howle, L, Behringer, RP, and Georgiadis, J. "Visualization of convective fluid flow in a porous medium." Nature 362, no. 6417 (1993): 230-232.
  - Howle, LE, Behringer, RP, and Georgiadis, JG. "Visualization of natural convection in ordered and disordered porous layers." American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fluids Engineering Division (Publication) FED 172 (1993): 387-395.
  - Howle, LE, Behringer, RP, and Georgiadis, JG. "Visualization of convective fluid flow in a porous medium." Nature 362, no. 7 (1993): 230-232. (Academic Article)
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

In the News

Awards & Honors

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

Recent Courses