Forman A. Williams

Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Energy from combustion, combustion efficiency, and combustion instability problems in a variety of engines, including rockets.

Professor Williams' studies range from investigations into the fundamental nature of energy and combustion to practical applications in energy conservation and production, as well as pollution control. Among other things, he looks at the structure of flames in combustion energy research to ensure optimal functionality, conducting small-scale laminar combustion experiments in which all points of the combustion front move at an identical velocity. Williams' work in combustion has led to a greater understanding of pollutants. He has focused on the mechanisms of production of NOx emissions (oxides of nitrogen), which can be used to decrease pollution from automobiles. Williams has done fundamental combustion experiments on the space shuttle to look at the effects of gravity or microgravity on flames. By studying droplet and spray combustion and looking at the use of detonations for propulsion, more efficient rocket engines have been created. Most recently, Williams has been looking at how to make automobile engines more efficient with a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI), instead of a traditional spark ignition engine. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and director UCSD's Center for Energy and Combustion Research.

Capsule Bio:
Forman A. Williams received his Ph.D. in engineering science from the California Institute of Technology in 1958. He was an assistant professor at Harvard until 1964, at which time he came to UCSD. In 1981, he accepted the Robert H. Goddard Chair at Princeton but returned to UCSD in 1988. He became director of the Center for Energy and Combustion Research in 1991. His research interests center in the field of combustion. Williams is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. His other distinctions include the Alexander von Humboldt U.S. Senior Scientist Award, Bernard Lewis Gold Medal of the Combustion Institute; the AIAA Pendray Aerospace Literature Award; and the University of California Presidential Chair in Energy and Combustion Research. Williams is the author of "Combustion Theory" and co-author of "Fundamental Aspects of Combustion."

Institute Affiliation:
Center for Energy Research »