Laura Villafane Roca

For More Information

• Research group website
• Center for Hypersonics and Entry Systems Studies (CHESS)

Education

• Ph.D. Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (Belgium) and Polytechnic University of Valencia (Spain) 2013. Thesis: Experimental Aerothermal Performance of Turbofan Bypass Flow Heat Exchangers, Advisor: Prof. G. Paniagua
• Research Master in Fluid Dynamics, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics - VKI (Belgium) 2008
• B.S./M.S. Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid - UPM (Spain) 2007

Academic Positions

• Affiliate Assistant Professor (0% appointment), Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, August 2023 - present
• Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, January 2019 - present
• Research Engineer, Center for Turbulence Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, January 2018 - December 2018
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for Turbulence Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, September 2014 - December 2017, Advisor: John K. Eaton
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Aeronautics and Aerospace Department, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics 2014, Advisor: Guillermo Paniagua.

Research Interests

• Particle-laden flows
• Turbulence and heat transfer
• Compressible flows
• Measurement techniques (instrumentation design and non-intrusive optical diagnostics)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging for fluid mechanics

Selected Articles in Journals

• Benson M., Nguyen T., Romig S., Dagobert L., Borup D., Bruschewski M., John K., Grundmann S., Song S., Dong H., Banko A.,  Elkins C., Villafane L., Bandopadhyay T., Sutton B., "MRV Challenge 3: velocity and passive scalar comparison in a 3D turbulent flow", Experiments in Fluids, (2026), accepted (In press.)
• Rasmont N., Rovey J., Villafane L., "Millimeter-wave tomography of dense particle clouds", Review of Scientific Instruments  97 (4) (2026): 044701 
• Ringel B. M., Boesch H., Oruganti S., Villafañe L., Panerai F., “Unsteady spallation of low-density carbon fiber ablators”, Carbon 248 (2025); 121113.
• Ghasimi S.D., Rabinovitch J., Chacon L., Poovathingal S.,  Phillippe C., Foster C.,  Villafane L., Panerai F., As'ad F., Avery P., Farhat C., Lobbia M., Ataei N., "Permeability Modeling of the Mars 2020 Parachute Broadcloth Material", AIAA Journal 63, no. 9 (2025); 3967-3984                    
• Bandopadhyay T., Tomas A., Villafane L., "Inertial particle cluster dynamics in the core region of a turbulent duct flow", International Journal of Multiphase Flow 191 (2025): 105313,
• Villafane, L., Aliseda, A., Ceccio, S., DiMarco, P., Machicoane, N., and Heindel, T.J., "50 Years of International Journal of Multiphase Flow: Experimental Methods for Dispersed Multiphase Flows", International Journal of Multiphase Flow 189 (2025): 105239.
• Rasmont N., Rovey J., Villafane L., "Validation and calibration of a millimeter wave interferometer for concentration measurements in particle-laden flows", International Journal of Multiphase Flow 189 (2025): 105234.
• Phillippe C., Panerai F., Villafane L., "In Situ Imaging of Parachute Textile Micro-Mechanics Under Tensile Load", AIAA Journal 62, no. 12, (2024): 4691-4700.
• Rasmont N., Al-Rashdan H., Elliott G., Rovey J., Villafane L., "Millimeter-Wave Interferometry for Opaque Particle-Laden Flows," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques 71, no.11 (2023): 4893-4905.
• Benson M., Banko A., Elkins C., An D.G., Song S, Bruschewski M., Grundmann S., Bandopadhyay T., Sutton B., Villafane L., Han K., Hwang W., Eaton J.K., “MRV Challenge 2: Phase locked turbulent measurements in a roughness array”, Experiments In Fluids 64, no. 2. (2023): 28.
• Esmaily M., Villafane L., Banko A.J., Iaccarino G., Eaton J.K., Mani A., "A benchmark for particle-laden turbulent duct flow: A joint computational and experimental study", International Journal of Multiphase Flow 132 (2020): 103410.
• Banko A., Villafane L., Kim J.H., Eaton K.J, "Temperature Statistics in a Radiatively Heated Particle-laden Turbulent Square Duct Flow", International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow 84 (2020): 108618.
• Hoffman D., Villafane L., Elkins C. J., and Eaton K. J., "Experimental Study of Flow Inside a Centrifugal Fan Using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry", ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power 142, no.4, (2020): 041019.
• Di Renzo M. Johnson P.L., Bassenne M., Villafane L, Urzay J., "Mitigation of turbophoresis in particle-laden turbulent channel flows by using incident electric fields", Physical Review Fluids 4, no. 12, (2019): 124303.
• Grosshans H., Villafane L., Banko A., Papalexandris M.V., "Case study on the influence of electrostatic charges on particle concentration in turbulent duct flows", Powder Technology 357 (2019): 46-53.
• Banko A.J., Villafane L., Kim J.H., Esmaily, M., Eaton, J.K., "Stochastic modeling of direct radiation transmission in particle-laden turbulent flow", Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 226 (2019): 1-18.
• Villafane L., Paniagua G., "Aerodynamic impact of finned heat exchangers on transonic flows", Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 97 (2018): 223-236.
• Villafane L., Paniagua G., Bonfanti G., Yasa T., "Local surface shear stress measurements from oil streaks thinning", Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 223 (2015): 31-39.
• Sousa J., Villafane L., Paniagua G., "Thermal analysis and modeling of surface heat exchangers operating in the transonic regime", Energy 64 (2014): 961-969.
• Villafane L., Paniagua G., "Aerothermal analysis of shielded fine wire thermocouple probes", International Journal of Thermal Sciences 65 (2013): 214-223.
• Sousa J., Lavagnoli S., Paniagua G., Villafane L., "Three dimensional inverse heat flux evaluation based on infrared thermography", Quantitative InfraRed Thermography Journal 9, no. 2, (2012): 177-191.
• Villafane L., Paniagua G., Kaya M., Bajusz D., Hiernaux S., "Development of a Transonic Wind Tunnel to investigate Engine Bypass Flow Heat Exchanges", Proc. IMechE, Part G: J. Aerospace Engineering 225, no. 8, (2012): 902-914.

Articles in Conference Proceedings

• Phillippe C., Ehrhardt D., Panerai F., Villafane L, "Separation of Microstructural Sources of Permeability in Parachute Textiles", In 28th Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Conference and Seminar, London, United Kingdom, June 1-5  2026, AIAA 2026-3858.
• Jimenez-Cuesta C., Heuser L., Rovey J., Lüking A., Villafane L., "Mitigation of Plume-Surface Interaction Effects via Landing Mats", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2026, Orlando, FL, USA, January 2026. AIAA 2026-2832. 
• Heuser L., Zhao R., Rasmont N., Rovey J., Villafane L, "Ejecta Tracking During Plume Surface Interactions at Subatmospheric Conditions", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2026, Orlando, Florida, January 12-16, 2026. AIAA 2026-2831
• Patel M., Bruni L., Nanjappa N., Evrard F., Capecelatro J. Villafane L, "Data-driven Framework to Characterize Crater Dynamics During Plume-Surface Interactions", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2026, Orlando, Florida, January 12-16, 2026. AIAA 2026-2153
• Kampert H., Cahanding T., Ederle P., Bandopadhyay T., Patil P., Pelletiere J.,  Samland M., Villafane L., Banko A., Van Poppel B., "Turbulent Flow and Mixing Within and Around Building Environments", In Proceedings of the ASME 2025 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. IMemphis, Tennesse, November 16-20, 2025. MECE2025: 166586,  
• Bruni L., Patel M.,  Evrard F., Capecelatro J., Villafane L., "Data-driven Characterization of Crater Morphology During Plume-surface Interaction", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2025, Orlando, Florida, January 6-10, 2025. AIAA 2025-2568
• Phillippe C., Ehrhardt D., Panerai F., Villafane L., "Flow-Induced Strain of Parachute Textiles with Multiscale Digital Image Correlation", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2025, Orlando, Florida, January 6-10, 2025. AIAA 2025-2640
• Rasmont N., Heuser L.,  Rovey J., Villafane L., "Multiple Approach Ejecta Mapping in PSI: Millimeter-Wave Tomography Coupled with PTV and Predictive Modeling", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2025, Orlando, Florida, January 6-10, 2025. AIAA 2025-2400
• Ghasimi S. D., Rabinovitch J., Chacon L., Poovathingal S. J., Phillippe C., Foster C.,  Villafane L., Panerai F., Asad F., Avery P., Farhat C., Lobbia M., Ataei N., "Permeability Modeling of Mars Parachute Broadcloth Materials", In AIAA Aviation Forum and Ascend 2024,  Las Vegas, Nevada, 29 July - 2 August 2024. AIAA 2024-4224.
• Foster C., Phillippe C.,Villafane L., Panerai F., "In situ micro-computed tomography of reentry fabrics under tensile loading", In TMS 2024 153rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Supplemental Proceedings. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer
• Rasmont N., Al-Rashdan H, Bansal I., Elliott G., Rovey J., Villafane L., "Millimeter-Wave Tomographic Interferometry of Ejecta Concentrations in Plume-Surface Interactions", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2024, Orlando, Florida, January 8-12, 2024. AIAA 2024-1979
• Ringel B., Boesch H., Oruganti S., Villafane L., Panerai F., "Quantification of Spalling Particles for Carbon Thermal Protection System Materials in Supersonic Air and Nitrogen", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2024, Orlando, Florida, January 8-12, 2024. AIAA 2024-0649
• Jain A., Chen S., Panerai F., Villafane L., "Experimental study of the shock structure in a particle-laden underexpanded free jet", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2024, Orlando, Florida, January 8-12, 2024. AIAA 2024-1981
• Phillippe C., Villafane L., Panerai F. "In-Situ Extraction of Modeling Parameters and Mechanics for Parachute Textiles Under Radial Stress with Micro-Tomography and Machine Learning", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2024, Orlando, Florida, January 8-12, 2024. AIAA 2024-1003
• Phillippe C., Mattei M., Villafane L., Panerai F., “In-Situ Micro-scale Characterization of Parachute Textiles with Micro-Tomography and Machine Learning”, In AIAA SciTech Forum 2023, Gaylord National Harbor, Maryland, January 23-27, 2023. AIAA 2023-0141
• Mattei M., Phillippe C., Panerai F., Villafane L., "Design, Manufacturing, and Testing of Flat and Conical Sub-Scale Parachute Models", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2023, Gaylord National Harbor, Maryland, January 23-27, 2023. AIAA 2023-0462
• Rasmont N, Al-Rashdan H., Elliott G., Rovey J., Villafane L., "Spatially Distributed Measurements of Ejecta Concentrations in Plume-Surface Interactions using Millimeter Wave Interferometry", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2023, Gaylord National Harbor, Maryland, January 23-27, 2023. AIAA 2023-0465
• Rasmont N., Al-Rashdan H., Elliott G., Rovey J., Villafane L., "Millimeter Wave Interferometry for Ejecta Concentration Measurements in Plume-Surface Interactions ", In AIAA SciTech Forum 2022, San Diego, CA. Jan. 3-7, 2022. AIAA 2022-2421
• Al-Rashdan H., Rasmont N., Rovey J., Elliott G., Villafane L., "Static Wall Pressure Measurements of Supersonic Under expanded Jet Impingement", In AIAA Aviation Forum 2021, virtual, Aug. 2-6, 2021. AIAA 2021-2859
• Banko A., Villafane L., Kim J.H., Eaton J. K., "Temperature statistics in a radiatively heated particle-laden turbulent square duct flow", In 11th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena (TSFP11) 2019 Southampton, UK
• Hoffman, D.W., Villafane, L., Elkins, C.J., Eaton, J.K., "Experimental Study of Flow Inside a Centrifugal Fan Using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry", In ASME Turbo Expo 2019, Phoenix, AR, USA
• Grosshans H., Villafane L., Banko A., Papalexandris M.V., "Influence of electrostatic charges on the particle concentration in wall-bounded turbulent flows", In 8th World Congress on Particle Technology 2018, Orlando, FL, USA
• Villafane L, Banko A., Kim J. H., Elkins C., Eaton J. K. "Radiative Heating of Inertial Particles in a Particle-laden Turbulent Duct Flow," In 10th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena, TSFP10, 2017 Chicago, IL, USA.
• Banko A., Villafane L., Esmaily-Moghadam M., Eaton J. K. "Prediction of Preferential Concentration Statistics from Eulerian two-point Correlations," In 10th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomena, TSFP10, 2017 Chicago, IL, USA.
• Raush G., Villafane L., Paniagua G. "Optical Characterization of a Cross Flow Fan for Distributed Propulsion," In 52nd AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, July 2016. AIAA 2016-4960, 
• Gibbs J., Seyfang G., Peebles P, Villafane L., Paniagua G. "An analysis of FanWing flight physics and potential business cases", In 4th EASN Association International Workshop on Flight and Aircraft Design, Aachen, Germany, 2014.
• Villafane L., Paniagua G. "Aerodynamic Characterization of Three-dimensional Turbofan Bypass-flow Heat Exchanger Effects in an Intermittent Transonic Facility", In 43rd AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference, San Diego, CA, USA, 2013. AIAA 2013-2728
• Villafañe L., Paniagua G. "Experimental Investigation of Engine Bypass Flow Behavior in the Presence of Surface Heat Exchangers", In ASME 2014 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting (FEDSM2014), Chicago, Illinois, USA. August 2014. FEDSM2014-21580. V01BT10A030.
• Villafane L., Paniagua G. "Aerothermal Analysis and Characterization of Shielded Fine Wire Thermocouple Probes," In XXI Biannual Symposium on Measuring Techniques in Turbomachinery, Valencia, Spain, 2012. MTT2112-A306
• Villafane L., Yasa T., Paniagua G., Bonfanti G."Development of Experimental Techniques for the Characterization of Helicoidal Fin Arrays in Transonic Flow Conditions", In 47th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit,  San Diego, CA, USA, 2011. AIAA 2011-6093
• Villafane L., Paniagua G., Desset J., Bajusz D., Hiernaux S. "Development of a Transonic Wind Tunnel to investigate Engine Bypass Flow Heat Exchangers" In 46th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, Nashville, TN, USA, 2010. AIAA 2010-6951.

Other Publications

• Di Renzo M. Johnson P.L., Bassenne M., Villafane L, Urzay J., "Electrically induced suppression of turbophoresis in particle-laden turbulent channel flows", Summer Program Proceedings, Center For Turbulence Research, Stanford University, 2018.
• Villafane L., Banko A., Elkins C., Eaton J. K., "Gas heating by radiation absorbing inertial particles in a turbulent duct flow," Annual Research Briefs, Center for Turbulence Research, Stanford University, 2017.
• Villafane L., Esmaily-Moghadam M., Banko A., Eaton J. K., "A robust method for quantification of preferential concentration from finite number of particles," Annual Research Briefs, Center for Turbulence Research, Stanford University, 2016.

Patents

• Rasmont N., Villafane L., Al-Rashdan H., Elliott G.S., Rovey J.L., Radar Interferometric Tomography for Opaque Particle-laden Flows, U.S. Patent Application No.:­­­­­ 18/970,528, on December 5, 2024

Journal Editorships

• Editor of Measurement, EES Journal, April 2023 - November 2024
• Associate Editor of Measurement, EES Journal, February 2018 - April 2023
• Editor of Results in Engineering (RINENG), Elsevier, March 2020 - present

Professional Societies

• APS DFD Program Committee - Dec. 2025 - Dec. 2028
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, AIAA, Associate Fellow 2024-present
• US National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics - Young Observer -2024
• AIAA Fluid Flow Phenomena Subcomittee - May 2022- May 2025
• AIAA Fluid Dynamics Technical Committee - May 2022 -May 2025
• American Physical Society, APS, Division of Fluid Dynamics, 2014 - present
• Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellows, 2013 - present

Research Honors

• AIAA Associate Fellow, Class of 2025. (09/2024)
• . Ph.D Thesis Award, Summa cum laude, Polythechnic University of Valencia
• Amelia Earhart Fellowship, Zonta International Foundation (04/2013)
• Outstanding Graduate Thesis Award, Polythechnic University of Madrid (06/2007)

Public Service Honors

• AIAA Illinois Section-Student Branch Partnership Award 2025. First place (07/2025)
• AIAA Illinois Membership Award 2025, First place. (07/2025)
• AIAA Illinois Outstanding Section Award 2025, Section Chair, First place.  (07/2025)
• AIAA Illinois Section-Student Branch Partnership Award 2024, First place (07/2024)
• AIAA Illinois Communications Award 2024, Section Chair, First place (07/2024)
• AIAA Illinois Section Outstanding Activity Award 2024, Section Chair (07/2024)
• AIAA Illinois Outstanding Section Award 2024, Section Chair, First place. (07/2024)
• US National Committee for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics - USNC/TAM -Young Observer, 2024 (02/2024)
• AIAA Illinois Section-Student Branch Partnership Award 2023, First place, (08/2023)
• AIAA Illinois Outstanding Section Award 2022, Section Chair, Third place (08/2022)

Other Honors

• NATO fellowship for Graduate Research - von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (10/2008 - 12/2013)
• NATO fellowship for Research Master -  von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (09/2007 - 06/2008)

Recent Courses Taught

• AE 311 - Incompressible Flow
• AE 514 - Boundary Layer Theory
• AE 598 MF (AE 598 MFO) - Multiphase Flows