About

Kevin G. Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech. He earned his Ph.D. in Computational and Mathematical Engineering from Stanford University in 2011, following a Master’s degree in the same field in 2009, and a Bachelor’s degree in Information and Computational Sciences from Nanjing University in 2006. Dr. Wang directs the Multiphysics Modeling and Computation (M2C) Lab, where he focuses on computational science and engineering, developing numerical methods for fluid-structure interaction, multiphase flow, laser-fluid interaction, and mass and heat transport in nanomaterials. His research also encompasses high-performance computing, verification, validation, and uncertain quantification, as well as shock-induced structural instabilities, bubble dynamics, cavitation, and energy harvesting and storage. He has contributed to various projects related to shock-resistant elastomer coatings, parachute deployment, cavitation damage assessment, and thermal energy harvesting, among others. Dr. Wang has been recognized with awards such as the NSF CAREER Award in 2017 and the AFRL Summer Faculty Fellowship in 2016. He is actively involved in professional societies including USACM, AIAA, SNAME, and ASME, and serves as a program manager for the Virginia Tech - Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Research topics

• Physics
• Mechanics
• Computer Science
• Acoustics
• Materials science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Mathematics
• Composite material
• Geology
• Mathematical analysis
• Aerospace engineering
• Engineering
• Marine engineering
• Oceanography
• Medicine
• Optics

Selected publications

• Coupled Fluid-Structural Analysis of Explosion Containment Using Crushable Sandwich Structures

  2025-07-20

  articleSenior author

  Abstract Recent improvements in cellular material technologies, such as foams and hierarchical structures, have made lightweight single-use containment structures an effective solution for neutralizing rogue explosives. While previous studies have focused on their response to open or partially confined explosions, this study investigates their dynamic response to completely confined internal explosions. Such explosion events are more challenging to simulate due to the nonlinear shock wave propagation, reflections, and interactions. In this work, we employ our three-stage, two-way coupled fluid-structure interaction simulation framework that captures detonation, shock propagation, and large, plastic structural deformations on their respective time scales. The framework uses a partitioned procedure to couple a nonlinear finite element structural dynamics solver with a high-resolution finite volume compressible multiphase fluid dynamics solver. The dynamic kinematic interface condition at the shared fluid-structure boundary is enforced using the embedded boundary method. Interfacial mass, momentum, and energy fluxes across the fluid-structure interface are computed by constructing and solving local one-dimensional fluid-structure Riemann problems featuring a constant structural wall velocity. A case study of a sandwich foam composite containment structure with steel skin layers and an aluminum foam core subjected to a 250 g TNT explosion is presented. The structure features the standard pressure vessel design with ellipsoidal end caps that are connected by a cylindrical section, assumed to be completely sealed. The metallic foam’s long plastic plateau and nonlinear densification properties are modeled using an extended von Mises yield criterion and a nonlinear hardening law, whose material parameters are a function of foam density. The results show that due to the effective energy absorption capabilities of metallic foams, the maximum effective plastic strain developed in the outer skin layer is 4%, well below its failure threshold. Moreover, a comparative analysis with a thin steel containment structure of identical weight demonstrates that the sandwich composite structure performs 9 times more plastic work while dissipating 8 times more total energy of the internal explosion.

  PublisherDOI

• Ionization induced by fluid–solid interaction during hypervelocity impact

  International Journal of Solids and Structures · 2025-02-12 · 2 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• M2C: An Open-Source Software for Multiphysics Simulation of Compressible Multi-Material Flows and Fluid–Structure Interactions

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Fluid–structure coupled simulation framework for lightweight explosion containment structures under large deformations

  International Journal of Impact Engineering · 2025-02-04 · 3 citations

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Ionization Induced by Fluid-Solid Interaction During Hypervelocity Impact

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Fluid-structure coupled simulation framework for lightweight explosion containment structures under large deformations

  arXiv (Cornell University) · 2024-12-05

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Lightweight, single-use explosion containment structures provide an effective solution for neutralizing rogue explosives, combining affordability with ease of transport. This paper introduces a three-stage simulation framework that captures the distinct physical processes and time scales involved in detonation, shock propagation, and large, plastic structural deformations. The hypothesis is that as the structure becomes lighter and more flexible, its dynamic interaction with the gaseous explosion products becomes increasingly significant. Unlike previous studies that rely on empirical models to approximate pressure loads, this framework employs a partitioned procedure to couple a finite volume compressible fluid dynamics solver with a finite element structural dynamics solver. The level set and embedded boundary methods are utilized to track the fluid-fluid and fluid-structure interfaces. The interfacial mass, momentum, and energy fluxes are computed by locally constructing and solving one-dimensional bi-material Riemann problems. A case study is presented involving a thin-walled steel chamber subjected to an internal explosion of $250~\text{g}$ TNT. The result shows a $30\%$ increase in the chamber volume due to plastic deformation, with its strains remaining below the fracture limit. Although the incident shock pulse carries the highest pressure, the subsequent pulses from wave reflections also contribute significantly to structural deformation. The high energy and compressibility of the explosion products lead to highly nonlinear fluid dynamics, with shock speeds varying across both space and time. Comparisons with simpler simulation methods reveal that decoupling the fluid and structural dynamics overestimates the plastic strain by $43.75\%$, while modeling the fluid dynamics as a transient pressure load fitted to the first shock pulse underestimates the plastic strain by $31.25\%$.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Ionization Induced by Fluid-Solid Interaction During Hypervelocity Impact

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Fluid-Structure Coupled Simulation Framework for Lightweight Explosion Containment Structures Under Large Deformations

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Data of compressible multi-material flow simulations utilizing an efficient bimaterial Riemann problem solver

  Data in Brief · 2024-01-23 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  This paper presents fluid dynamics simulation data associated with two test cases in the related research article [1]. In this article, an efficient bimaterial Riemann problem solver is proposed to accelerate multi-material flow simulations that involve complex thermodynamic equations of state and strong discontinuities across material interfaces. The first test case is a one-dimensional benchmark problem, featuring large density jump (4 orders of magnitude) and drastically different thermodynamics relations across a material interface. The second test case simulates the nucleation of a pear-shaped vapor bubble induced by long-pulsed laser in water. This multiphysics simulation combines laser radiation, phase transition (vaporization), non-spherical bubble expansion, and the emission of acoustic and shock waves. Both test cases are performed using the M2C solver, which solves the three-dimensional Eulerian Navier-Stokes equations, utilizing the accelerated bimaterial Riemann solver. Source codes provided in this paper include the M2C solver and a standalone version of the accelerated Riemann problem solver. These source codes serve as references for researchers seeking to implement the acceleration algorithms introduced in the related research article. Simulation data provided include fluid pressure, velocity, density, laser radiance and bubble dynamics. The input files and the workflow to perform the simulations are also provided. These files, together with the source codes, allow researchers to replicate the simulation results presented in the research article, which can be a starting point for new research in laser-induced cavitation, bubble dynamics, and multiphase flow in general.

  PublisherDOI

• Opportunity and Risk in Repurposing Natural Gas Pipeline Network for Hydrogen Transport

  2024-08-30 · 2 citations

  articleCorresponding

  Studies investigated the behavior of pipeline steel in hydrogen environment but presenting the natural gas pipeline network as a viable solution for hydrogen transportation is still debatable. The current review presents the evaluation of the available research on the hydrogen-induced degradation of pipeline steel. The hydrogen-induced degradation of pipeline steels under electrochemical charging and/or exposure to hydrogen gas can be attributed to variables, namely, gas composition, hydrogen pressure, loading conditions, temperature variations, welding type, and technique and the inhibitors used. Given the outcomes, it can be inferred that the current pipeline infrastructure can present a viable and cost-effective option for blending hydrogen in existing natural gas pipelines. However, it is highly suggested that future researchers ought to prioritize the investigation of fatigue behavior about parental cracks and dents, gouge development, corrosion effects, as well as weldments with various flaws.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• CAREER: MULTIPHASE FLUID-MATERIAL INTERACTION: CAVITATION MODELING AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

  NSF · $578k · 2018–2024

Frequent coauthors

• Xuning Zhao

  Virginia Tech

  14 shared

• Shafquat Islam

  Virginia Tech

  13 shared

• Wentao Ma

  Virginia Tech

  11 shared

• Aditya Narkhede

  10 shared

• Shunxiang Cao

  Tsinghua University

  9 shared

• Pei Zhong

  6 shared

• Gaoming Xiang

  6 shared

• John G. Michopoulos

  5 shared

Labs

• Multiphysics Modeling and Computation LabPI

Awards & honors

• NSF CAREER Award (2017)
• AFRL Summer Faculty Fellowship (2016)
• Teacher of the Week, Virginia Tech (2016)
• Gene H. Golub Dissertation Award, Stanford University (2012)