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Laurens E. Howle

Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science
Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
239 Hudson Hall, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708-0300
239 Hudson Eng Bldg, Box 90300, Durham, NC 27708-0300

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.

Selected Grants


Probabilistic Decompression Sickness Model Development

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2021 - 2024

Perfluoromethane to Reduce Decompression Sickness

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2021 - 2023

Altitude Study

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2017 - 2021

Advances in Probabilistic Decompression Models and Real-Time Profile Optimization

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2017 - 2020

Revised Budget: Transfer of Duke Dive Trial Data-JIT for SPS 233417

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2017 - 2018

Probabilistic Decompression Sickness Model Development

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2021 - 2024

Perfluoromethane to Reduce Decompression Sickness

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2021 - 2023

Altitude Study

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2017 - 2021

Advances in Probabilistic Decompression Models and Real-Time Profile Optimization

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2017 - 2020

Revised Budget: Transfer of Duke Dive Trial Data-JIT for SPS 233417

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2017 - 2018

Graduate Fellowship to Strengthen Navy Capabilities in Probabilistic Decompression Modeling

FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Office of Naval Research · 2013 - 2017

Advances in Probabilistic Decompression Models and Decompression Scheduling

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command · 2013 - 2016

Development of a Propeller and Flapping Wing Test Stand and Associated Instrumentation

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Lord Foundation of North Carolina · 2002 - 2005

Engineering Study of Carangiform Swimming - Reduction to Practice

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Office of Naval Research · 1999 - 2002

Innovations in Medical Ultrasound Imaging

EquipmentPrincipal Investigator · 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

ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2000 - 2000

Undergraduate Laboratory Renovations

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

External Relationships


  • Consolidated Safety Services

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.