American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Thermophysics Technical Committee
Thermophysics Award
The Thermophysics Award is given yearly and was established in 1975. The Award is presented for an outstanding singular or sustained technical or scientific contribution by an individual in thermophysics, specifically as related to the study and application of the properties and mechanisms involved in thermal energy transfer and the study of environmental effects on such properties and mechanisms. The award is presented yearly at the Summer AIAA Thermophysics Conference.
Recipients of the Thermophysics Award
| Year | Recipient | Citation |
| 2008 | Michael F. Modest | In recognition of his contributions in thermal radiation and laser processing, as well as his seminal contributions to modeling and measurement of nongray gas-radiation properties. |
| 2007 | Graham Candler | For outstanding contributions toward development, validation, and application of state-of-the-art numerical techniques for high temperature gas dynamics flows in thermochemical nonequilibrium. |
| 2006 | Carl Scott | For pioneering in the investigation, understanding, and education of the effects of surface chemistry on the aerothermodynamic heating of re-entering spacecraft at hypersonic velocities. |
| 2005 | Daniel C. Reda | For pioneering research on boundary layer transition for hypersonic flows over ablative thermal-protection-system materials and the advancement of ballistics ranges. |
| 2004 | Je-Chin Han | For significant contributions to heat transfer augmentation in gas turbine blade cooling, heat transfer in rotating flows, and film cooling in unsteady high turbulent flows. |
| 2003 | Ping Cheng | For his pioneering work in radiative gas dynamics, porous media heat transfer, and compressible oscillatory flow and heat transfer as well as his service to the Journal of Thermophysics and Heat Transfer. |
| 2002 | Frederick G. Blottner | For distinguished contributions towards development of accurate numerical techniques for supersonic and hypersonic chemical reacting viscous flows that form the basis for modern compressible fluid dynamics and heat transfer prediction techniques. |
| 2001 | Surendra N. Tiwari | For significant contributions in analysis of radiation heat transfer, combustion, thermal protection of entry vehicles, and atmospheric radiation, and in education of thermal scientists. |
| 2000 | No award presented | |
| 1999 | Hassan A. Hassan | For contributions to improving physical models in direct simulation Monte Carlo methods and hybrid Monte Carlo / Navier-Stokes solvers and for the development of a transition / turbulence model for the prediction of onset and extent of transition on flight vehicles. |
| 1998 | Amir Faghri | For significant and sustained contributions in developing both simple and advanced thermophysical models–notably in evaporation, solidification, and melting, free surface flows, and phase change. |
| 1997 | John J. Bertin | In recognition of sustained and outstanding contributions to hypersonic aerothermodynamics through research, technical society leadership, and education. |
| 1996 | G.P. "Bud" Peterson | For outstanding contributions to the understanding of phase change heat transfer, notable achievements in the technology, and leadership in engineering education. |
| 1995 | Fred R. DeJarnette | For significant contribution to reentry technology through the development of computationally efficient methods for predicting three dimensional aerodynamic heating. |
| 1994 | Chul Park | For vast contributions in enhancing the understanding of nonequilibrium chemically reacting hypersonic flows and immeasurably advancing the science of hypervelocity atmospheric flight. |
| 1993 | Robert Siegel | For outstanding contributions to thermophysics including boiling in low gravity, transient forced and free convection, solidification and thermal radiation. |
| 1992 | Leroy S. "Skip" Fletcher | For his outstanding contributions to the field of Thermophysics, especially through innovative experimental research in thermal contact conductance, aerothermodynamics and heat transfer in separated flow. |
| 1991 | Peter A. Gnoffo | For pioneering contributions to the development of computational techniques for the analysis of complex hypervelocity flows in chemical and thermal nonequilibrium. |
| 1990 | John R. Howell | For his outstanding contributions in thermophysics with specific reference to his application of the Monte Carlo method to radiation heat transfer. |
| 1989 | James N. Moss | For pioneering research in the computation of flow fields about hypervelocity entry vehicles, including analyses of real-gas chemistry, radiative transport, ablation, and rarefaction and for meritorious service to the AIAA. |
| 1988 | Graeme A. Bird | For his sustained and significant contributions to the development of the direct simulation Monte Carlo method for simulating real gas flows for reentry and space applications, and furthering understanding of translational, chemical, and radiation nonequilibrium effects. |
| 1987 | Alfred L. Crosbie | For his contribution and leadership in the development of the theory and understanding of multidimensional radiative transfer in absorbing and scattering media and for his meritorious service to AIAA. |
| 1986 | John T. Howe | For pioneering research contributions in the field of thermophysics applied to aerothermodynamics, including reactive gas flows, radiative energy transport, and innovative thermal protection systems. |
| 1985 | Milan M. Yovanovich | For his sustained and significant contributions to the advancement in the fundamentals of thermal contact resistance theory. |
| 1984 | Tom J. Love | For fundamental contributions in radiative heat transfer with specific reference to his landmark studies in the analysis of absorbing, emitting, and scattering media. |
| 1983 | Stanford S. Penner | For eminent and sustained contributions to the thermophysics field, especially pertaining to quantitative spectroscopy and radiative transfer in high temperature gas systems. |
| 1982 | Richard P. Bobco | Awarded for significant contributions to the science and art of thermal design particularly his pioneering work on radiative exchange in complex systems. |
| 1981 | Walter B. Olstad | For pioneering research and outstanding leadership in the analysis of planetary atmospheric entry aerothermophysics and meritorious service to the AIAA. |
| 1980 | George W. Sutton | For his notable contributions to thermophysics through research and publications on high-energy laser beam propagation, interaction with materials, and laser-gas turbulence effects, in addition to his diligent and tireless service to AIAA. |
| 1979 | Raymond Viskanta | To recognize outstanding contributions to thermophysics which have been of lasting service to the aerospace profession specifically for his fundamental work in radiative transfer and the interaction of radiation with conduction and convection. |
| 1978 | Allie M. Smith | For his many contributions to thermophysics through research, particularly toward experimental and theoretical understanding of cryo deposits as well as the investigation of contamination and Solar degradation of thermal control and optical surfaces. |
| 1977 | Chang-Lin Tien | For his contributions to thermophysics through teaching, research, publications and service to his profession. He has made outstanding contributions in scattering phenomena, thermal conductivity, heat pipes, and fundamental properties of materials |
| 1976 | Donald K. Edwards | For his contributions to thermophysics through teaching, research, publications and service to your profession. He has made outstanding contributions to the fields of gaseous radiation, surface reflectance characterization, radiant heat transfer analysis, and radiation property instrumentation. |
Nominations: The Thermophysics Technical Committee solicits nominations for the Thermophysics Award every year. Nominations are usually due October 1st each year to AIAA Headquarters. The package is very straightforward and requires short references letters from 3-5 members of the community to support the nomination.
The Nomination Form can be downloaded from the AIAA Honors and Awards Website, or a PDF version may be found at the following link : Award Nomination Form.
Additional information regarding the award and nomination process may be obtained by contacting , Chair of the Awards Subcommittee for the Thermophysics Technical Committee, or at the AIAA Headquarters (or alternatively by phone her number is (703) 264-7623).
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