University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering

Donald Scott Stewart

Donald Scott Stewart
Donald Scott Stewart
  • Research Professor; Shao Lee Soo Professor Emeritus
(217) 333-7947
238 Computing Applications Bldg

For More Information

Education

  • Ph.D. Theoretical and Applied Science Cornell University 1981
  • B.S. Engineering Science SUNY at Buffalo 1976

Academic Positions

  • Courtesy Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, 2008 - 2013
  • Director, Florida Institute for Research in Energetics, Technical Program, Jan. 2008-2012
  • Professor, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, UIUC, Jan. 16, 2005-date
  • Combustion and Energetic Materials Team Leader, Center for Simulation of Advanced Rockets, 1997-1999
  • Technical Coordinator for Systems Integration, Center for Simulation of Advanced Rockets, UIUC, 1997-1998
  • Professor, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Office of Supercomputing, UIUC, 1993-2004
  • Associate Professor, University of Illinois, 1987-1993
  • Visiting Scientist, Cranfield Institute of Technology, Cranfield, Bedford, England, Summer 1987
  • Visiting Scientist, Cornell Mathematical Sciences Institute, Spring 1987
  • Visiting Professor, Cornell University, SU 1983-1985
  • Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, 1981-1987
  • Visiting Research Scientist, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, 1990-1991
  • Collaborator, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1983-date
  • Research Associate and Instructor, Cornell University, 1980-1981

Other Professional Employment

  • Research Engineer, Corning Glass Works, Corning, NY, 1980-1981
  • Teaching and Research Assistant, Cornell University, 1977-1980
  • Visiting Staff Member, Los Alamos National Laboratory, SU 1983-1988, 1990

Major Consulting Activities

  • Consultant, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1983-2009

Research Statement

Professor Stewart's research addresses a wide variety of problems in combustion, detonation and shock physics of energetic materials. His work focuses on advanced modeling and computational modeling of complex flows for combustion and shock physics systems.

Professor Stewart recently received a National Academies Fellowship, Senior Research Award, and is pursuing research at the Air Force Research Laboratory/Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He recently developed new descriptions of the ignition transients and criticality for well-posed continuum models of explosives that can be used to describe macroscopic phenomena. These models assume that the explosive is a continuum with well-defined average properties. Yet, at the microscopic level, energy adsorption and redistribution is uneven and localized. Understanding this process of energy partitioning requires models that account for this complex microstructural environment as well as the many kinds of mechanisms that absorb and release energy at that level.

As a National Academies Fellow, Professor Stewart studies complex issues involving the ignition of energetic materials-particularly mechanisms and collective behaviors of reactive sites at the microscale. He also helps design optical probe experiments in condensed explosives that allow him to scientifically measure shock ignition transients to fit to theoretical models. The goal is to develop a basis for new sub-models for explosive particle interactions.

Research Areas

  • Fluid Mechanics

Selected Articles in Journals

  • Stewart, D. S., J. A. Saenz, G. Rodriguez, A. R. Valenzuela, S. A. Clarke, A. A. Akinci, and K. Thomas, "The Initiation Mechanism of Direct Optical Initiation (DOI) Detonators," Proceedings of the 13th International Detonation Symposium, Office of Naval Research, Norfolk, VA, edited by S. M. Peiris, 393-399, (2006).
  • Stewart, D. S., S. Yoo, and D. E. Lambert, “Determination of the Lighting Radius for Detonation Shock Dynamics and Critical Ignition Transients in Condensed Explosives,” Proceedings of the 13th International Detonation Symposium, Office of Naval Research, Norfolk, VA, edited by S. M. Peiris, 737-743, 2006.
  • Wescott, B., D. S. Stewart, and W. C. Davis, "Modeling Diffraction and Dead Zones in PBX-9502," Proceedings of the 13th International Detonation Symposium, Office of Naval Research, Norfolk, VA, edited by S. M. Peiris, 744-750, 2006.
  • Kapila, A. K., J. B. Bdzil, and D. S. Stewart, “On the Structure and Accuracy of Programmed Burn,” Combustion Theory and Modeling, 10:2, 289-321, 2006.
  • ! Stewart, D. S., and A. R. Kasimov, “On the State of Detonation Stability Theory and Its Application to Propulsion,” Journal of Propulsion and Power, 22:6, 1230-1244, 2006.
  • Stewart, D. S., K. C. Tang, S. Yoo, M. Q. Brewster, and I. R. Kuznetzov, “Multi-Scale Modeling of Solid Rocket Motors: Time Integration Methods from Computational Aerodynamics Applied to Stable Quasi-Steady Motor Burning,” Propulsion and Power, 22:6, 1382-1388, 2006.
  • Lambert, D. L., D. S. Stewart, S. Yoo, and B. L. Wescott, “Experimental Validation of Detonation Shock Dynamics in Condensed Explosives,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 546, 227-253, 2006.
  • Stewart, D. S., “Miniaturization of Explosive Technology and Microdetonics,” Mechanics of the 21st Century, Proceedings of the International Conference of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Gutkowski, W. Kowalewski T. A.,eds., Springer, 379-385, 2005.
  • Wescott, B. L., D. S. Stewart, and W. C. Davis, “Equation of State and Reaction Rate for Condensed-Phase Explosives,” Journal of Applied Physics, 98, 053514-1-10, 2005.
  • Stewart, D. S. and A. R. Kasimov, “Theory of Detonation with an Embedded Sonic Locus,” SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics, 66:2, 384-407, 2005.
  • Yoo, S. and D. S. Stewart, “A Hybrid Level-set Method for Modeling Detonation and Combustion Problems in Complex Geometries,” Combustion Theory and Modeling, 9:2, 219-254, 2005.
  • Kuznetzov, I. and D. S. Stewart, “Burning Rate of Homogeneous Energetic Materials with Thermal Expansion and Varying Thermal Properties in the Condensed Phase,” Combustion Theory and Modeling, 9:2, 255-272, 2005.
  • Murphy, M., R. J. Adrian, D. S. Stewart, G. S. Elliot, K. Thomas, and J. E. Kennedy, “Visualization of Blast Waves Created by Exploding Bridgewires,” Journal of Visualization, 8:2, 125-135, 2005.
  • ! Kasimov, A. and D. S. Stewart, “Asymptotic Theory of Evolution and Failure of Self-sustained Detonation,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 525, 161-192, (also TAM Report, 1042) 2005.
  • Kasimov, A. and D. S. Stewart, “Numerical Simulation of One-dimensional Detonation in the Shock-attached Frame,” Physics of Fluids, 16:10, 3566-3578, 2004.
  • Wescott, B. L., D. S. Stewart, and J. B. Bdzil, “On Self-similarity of Detonation Diffractions,“ Physics of Fluids, 16:2, 373-384, 2004.
  • Stewart, D. S., W. C. Davis, and S. Yoo, “Equation of State for Modeling the Detonation Reaction Zone,” Proceedings of the 12th(International) Detonation Symposium, San Diego, Office of Naval Research ONR, 333-05-2, 624, 2002.
  • Kasimov A. and D. S. Stewart, “Spinning Instability of Gaseous Detonation,” Journal of Fluid Mechanic s, 466, 179-203, 2002.
  • Yoh, J., D. S. Stewart, and G. A. Ruderman, “A Thermomechanical Model for Energetic Materials with Phase Transformations: Analysis of Simple Motions,” SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics, 63:2, 538-563, 2002.
  • ! Ruderman, G. A., D. S. Stewart, and J. Yoh, “A Thermomechanical Model for Energetic Materials with Phase Transformations,” SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematic, 63:2, 510-537, 2002.
  • ! Stewart, D. S., “Towards Miniaturization of Explosive Technology,” Shock Waves, 11, 467-473, 2002.
  • Hegab, A., T. L. Jackson. J. D. Buckmaster, and D. S. Stewart, “Nonsteady Burning of Periodic Sandwich Propellants with Complete Coupling between the Solid and Gas Phases,” Combustion and Flame, 125:1-2, 1055-1070, 2001.
  • Bdzil, J. B., D. S. Stewart, and T. L. Jackson, “Program Burn Algorithms Based on Detonation Shock Dynamics: Discrete Approximations of Detonation Flows with Discontinuous Front Models,” Journal of Computational Physics, 174:2, 2001.
  • Kuznetsov, I. R. and D. S. Stewart, “Modeling the Thermal Expansion Boundary Layer during the Combustion of Energetic Materials,” Combustion and Flame, 126:4, 1747-1763, 2001.
  • Kapila, A. K., R. Menikoff, J. B. Bdzil, S. F. Son, and D. S. Stewart, “Two-phase Modeling of Deflagration-to-detonation Transition in Granular Materials: Reduced equations,” Phys. Fluids, 13, 3002-3042, 2001.
  • Ruderman, G. A., D. S. Stewart, and E. Fried, “Modeling the Mechanical Ignition Energetic Materials,” Proceedings of the 11th (International) Symposium on Detonation, Office of Naval Research, 33300, 573-580, 2001.
  • Stewart, D. S., J. Yao, and W. C. Davis, “Computation of Shock Acceleration Effects on Detonation Shock Dynamics for Explosives Described by General Equation of State,” Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 28, 619-628, 2000.
  • Bdzil, J. B., R. Menikoff, S. F. Son, A. K. Kapila, and D. S. Stewart, “Two-phase Modeling of Deflagration-to-detonation Transition in Granular Materials: A Critical Examination of Modeling Issues,” Physics of Fluids, 11:2, 378-402, 1999.
  • Aslam, T. D. and D. S. Stewart, “Detonation Shock Dynamics and Comparisons with Direct Numerical Simulation,” Combustion Theory and Modeling, 3, 77-101, 1999.
  • Short, Mark and D. S. Stewart, “The Multi-dimensional Stability of Weak-heat-release Detonations,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 382, 109-143, 1999.
  • Short, M. and D. S. Stewart, “Cellular Detonation Stability: A Normal Mode Linear Analysis,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 368, 229-262, 1998.
  • Stewart, D. S, “The Shock Dynamics of Multi-dimensional Condensed and Gas Phase Detonations,” Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 27, 2189-2205, 1998.
  • Stewart, D. S. and J. Yao, “The Normal Shock Velocity-curvature Relationship for Materials with Non-ideal Equation of State and Multiple Turning Points,” Combustion, 113, 224-235, 1998.
  • Kapila, A. K., S. F. Son, J. B. Bdzil, R. Menikoff, and D. S. Stewart, “Two-phase Modeling of DDT: Structure of the Velocity Relaxation Zone,” Physics of Fluids, 9, 12, 3885-3897, 1998.
  • Buckmaster, J., M. Short, and D. S. Stewart, “The Use of Activation Energy Asymptotics in Detonation Theory, with Comment on "Multidimensional Stability Analysis of Overdriven Gaseous Detonation,” Physics of Fluids, 9, 3764, 10, 3027-3030, 1998.
  • Xu, S., T. Aslam, and D. S. Stewart, “High-resolution Numerical Simulation of Ideal and Non-ideal Compressible Reaction Flow with Embedded Internal Boundaries,” Combustion Theory and Modeling, 1:1, 113-142, 1997.
  • Stewart, D. S., T. D. Aslam, and J. Yao, “On the Evolution of Detonation Cells,” Proceedings of the 26th International Symposium on Combustion, 2981-2989, 1997.
  • Short, M. and D. S. Stewart, “Low-frequency, Two-dimensional, Linear Instability of Plane Detonation,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 340, 249-295, 1997.
  • Xu, S. and D. S. Stewart, “Deflagration to Detonation Transition in Porous Energetic Materials: A Comparative Model Study,” Journal of Engineering Mathematics, 31, 143-172, 1997.
  • Aslam, T., J. B. Bdzil, and D. S. Stewart, “Level-set Methods Applied to Modeling Detonation Shock Dynamics,” Journal of Computational Physics, 126, 390-409, 1996.
  • Yao, J. and D. S. Stewart, “On the Dynamics of Multi-dimensional Detonation,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 309, 225-275, 1996.
  • Stewart, D. S., T. Aslam, J. Yao, and J. B. Bdzil, “Level-set Techniques Applied to Unsteady Detonation Propagation,” Modeling in Combustion Science, J. Buckmaster and J. Takeno, eds. Lecture Notes in Physics, 449, 352-369, Springer-Verlag, 1995.
  • Yao, J. and D. S. Stewart, “On the Normal Detonation Shock Velocity-curvature Relationship for Materials with Large Activation Energy,” Combustion and Flame, 100, 519-528, 1995.
  • Stewart, D. S., D. W. Asay, and M. Prasad, “Simplified Modeling of Transition to Detonation in Porous Energetic Materials,” Physics of Fluids, 6, 2515-2533, 1994.
  • Klein, R. and D. S. Stewart, “The Relation between Curvature, Rate State-dependence and Detonation Velocity,” SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics, 53:5, 1401-1435, 1993.
  • Stewart, D. S. and J. B. Bdzil, “Asymptotics and multi-scale simulation in a numerical combustion laboratory. Asymptotic Induced Numerical Methods for PDE's, Critical Parameters and Domain Decomposition,” NATO/ASI, H. G. Kaper and M. Garbey, eds., 384, 163-187, 1993.
  • Powers, J. and D. S. Stewart, “Exact Solutions for Oblique Detonation in the Hypersonic Limit,” AIAA Journal, 30, 762-736, 1992.
  • Bdzil, J. B., W. Fickett, and D. S. Stewart, “Detonation Shock Dynamics: A New Approach to Modeling Multi-dimensional Detonation Waves,” Proceedings of the 9th (International) Symposium on Detonation, 730-742, 1990.
  • Stewart, D. S. and J. B. Bdzil, “Examples of Detonation Shock Dynamics for Detonation Wave Spread Applications,” Proceedings of the 9th (International) Symposium on Detonation, 773-789, 1990.
  • Lee, H. I. and D. S. Stewart, “Calculation of Linear Detonation Instability, One-Dimensional Instability of Plane Detonation,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 216, 103-132, 1990.
  • Powers, J., D. S. Stewart, and H. Krier, “Theory of Two-phase Detonation, Part II: Structure,” Combustion and Flame, 80, 280-303, 1990.
  • Powers, J., D. S. Stewart, and H. Krier, “Theory of Two-phase Detonation: Part I,” Combustion and Flame, 80, 264-279, 1990.
  • Jackson, T. L., A. K. Kapila, and D. S. Stewart, “Evolution of a Reaction Center in an Explosive Material,” SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics, 49, 432-458, 1989.
  • Powers, J. M., D. S. Stewart, and H. Krier, “Analysis of Steady Compaction Waves in Porous Materials,” Journal of Applied Mechanics, 111, 15-24, 1989.
  • Kassoy, D. R., A. K. Kapila, and D. S. Stewart, “A Unified Formulation for Diffusive and Nondiffusive Thermal Explosion Theory,” Combustion Science Technology, 63, 33-44, 1989.
  • Bdzil, J. B. and D. S. Stewart, “Modeling of Two-dimensional Detonation with Detonation Shock Dynamics,” Physics of Fluids A, 1, 1261-1267, 1989.
  • Powers, J. M., D. S. Stewart, and H. Krier, “Two-phase Steady Detonation Analysis,” Astronautics of Aeronautics of Progress, AIAA ed. A., 114, 341-361, 1988.
  • Stewart, D. S., “Shock Induced Thermal Explosion. Mathematical Modeling and Related Topics,” NATO ASI Series Series E, 140, Martinus Nijhoff Pub., 301-304, 1988.
  • Stewart, D. S. and J. B. Bdzil, “A Lecture on "Detonation Shock Dynamics,” Mathematical Modeling in Combustion Science, Lecture Notes in Physics, 249, Springer-Verlag Publishers, 17-30, 1988.
  • Chambers, D., R. Adrian, P. Moin, D. S. Stewart, and H. Sung, “Karhunen-Loeve' Expansion of Buryers' Model of Turbulence,” Physics of Fluids, 31, 2573-2582, 1988.
  • Stewart, D. S. and J. B. Bdzil, “The Shock Dynamics of Stable Multidimensional Detonation,” Combustion and Flame, 72, 311-323, 1988.
  • Stewart, D. S., “Plane Shock Initiation of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Condensed Phase Explosives with a Sensitive Rate. Reacting Flows: Combustion and Chemical Reactors, Part I,” AMS Lectures in Applied Mathematics, 24, 403-418, 1986.
  • Bdzil, J. B. and D. S. Stewart, “Time-Dependent Two-Dimensional - The Interaction of Edge Rare Factions with Finite Reaction Zones,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 171, 1-26, 1986.
  • Stewart, D. S., “Shock Initiation of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Condensed Phase Explosives with a Sensitive Rate,” Combustion Science and Technology, 48, 309-330, 1986.
  • Stewart, D. S. and J. Buckmaster, “On the Stability of Linán's Premixed Flame Regime, revisited,” SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics, 46, 582-587, 1986.
  • Buckmaster, J. D., D. S. Stewart, A. Ignatiadis, and M. Williams, “On the Wind Generated by a Collapsing Diffusion Flame,” Combustion Science and Technolog,y 46, 145-165, 1986.
  • Stewart, D. S., “On the Stability of the Reaction Zone of the Plane Deflagration,” Combustion and Flame, 64, 157-165, 1986.
  • Stewart, D. S., “Transition to Detonation in a Model Problem,” Journal de Mechanique Théorique et Applique, 4, 103-137, 1985.
  • Stewart, D. S., A. K. Kapila, and G. S. S. Ludford, “Deflagrations and Detonations for Small Heat Release,” Journal de Mecanique Théorique et Appliqueé, 3, 105-115, 1984.
  • Stewart, D. S. and G. S. S. Ludford, “Acceleration of Fast Deflagration Waves,” Z.A.M.M., 63, 291-302, 1983.
  • Stewart, D. S. and G. S. S. Ludford, “Fast Deflagration Waves,” Journal de Mecanique Théorique et Appliqueé, 3, 463-487, 1983.
  • Holmes, P. J. and D. S. Stewart, “The Existence of One-dimensional Steady Detonation Waves in a Model Problem,” Studies in Applied Mathematics 66, 21-143 1982.

Professional Societies

  • Member, AAM
  • Member, ASME, 2002-date
  • Member, AIAA, 1993-date
  • Member, The Combustion Institute, Member, 1988-date
  • Member, American Physical Society, Topical Group on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter, 1986-date
  • Program Committee, American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics 2008-2011
  • Fellowship Committee, American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics, 2006-2007
  • Member, American Physical Society, 1986-date
  • Member, SIAM, 1984-date
  • Member, Sigma Xi, 1981
  • Member, Tau Beta Pi, 1976-date

Teaching Honors

  • Engineering Council Award in Excellence in Advising, 2006
  • UIUC College of Engineering, Outstanding Advisor Award, 1999
  • Incomplete List of Teachers Rated as Excellent, TAM 459, (Asymptotics and Singular Perturbation Theory, Spring 1988, 1999); TAM 470 (Advanced Numerical Methods for Computational Fluid Mechanics, Spring 2000)

Research Honors

  • Shao Lee Soo Professor, Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, UIUC, August 16, 2008-date
  • Listed in Marquis “Who’s Who in America,” 62nd Edition, 2008
  • National Academy Fellow, Senior Research Award, 2007-08
  • Phi Kappa Phi, 2004
  • Associate Fellow, AIAA, 2004
  • Fellow Institute of Physics, 1999
  • Fellow, American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics, 1998

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