Dr. Peter Oshkai

Biography

Peter Oshkai is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Victoria. He holds a Ph.D. from Lehigh University and is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng). His academic focus includes fluid dynamics and its application in engineering design, particularly concerning replacement heart valves. His research delves into various areas, including unsteady fluid flows, flow-acoustic coupling, and fluid-structure interactions. Oshkai's work explores how acoustically coupled flows are applied in engineering, aiming to address flow instabilities influenced by sound waves and acoustic resonances. For example, he investigates how large-amplitude oscillations occur in natural gas transport pipelines directly downstream of compressor facilities, suggesting these oscillations result from the coupling of flow instabilities and acoustic waves. Furthermore, Oshkai employs quantitative laser diagnostic techniques and digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) to examine flow-acoustic coupling and develop controls for flow instabilities. His research also spans fuel cells, focusing on enhancing mixing in predominantly laminar flow channels to optimize performance. He conducts this research at the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic).

Research Interests