Dr. Mike Benson

Michael J Benson

Contact

bensonmj@ornl.gov | 865.341.2939

Bio

Dr. Mike Benson is a senior research staff member in the Collection Science and Engineering group within the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  His areas of research include developing and using novel diagnostics for quantitative measurements of velocity, concentration, and temperature fields in technical flows using Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems.  In addition, he is active in research within the gas turbine engine field, atmospheric transport and dispersion, and in external ballistics, along with engineering education.  A Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, Mike transitioned to ORNL in June 2023 following a 29-year Army career including 14 years of teaching and leadership at the United States Military Academy (USMA). 

Professional Experience

U.S. Army:  May 1994 - May 2023.  Retired as Colonel

Director, Mechanical Engineering Division, USMA: Jan 2017-May 2023

Professor of Mechanical Engineering, 2020 - 2023

Associate Professor, Department of Civil *& Mechanical Engineering (D/C&ME), USMA, 2015- 2020

Assistant Professor, D/C&ME, USMA, 2004-5, 2011-2015

Instructor, D/C&ME, USMA, 2003-2004

Professional Engineer, 1998, Missouri License No. 029624

 

Awards

Donald N. Zwiep ‘Innovation in Engineering Education” Award Winner, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2021

Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2019

Dean’s Distinguished Scholarship Award, USMA, 2018

Phi Kappa Phi Senior Scholastic Award Winner, USMA, 2018

Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Award Winner, USMA, 2005

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2011

Degree of Engineer, Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University 2003

Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2003

Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, United States Military Academy, 1994

Professional Service

Division Chair, Mechanical Engineering Division (1000+ members in Division), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), 2017-2018

Program Chair, and Incoming Division Chair, Mechanical Engineering Division (1000+ members in Division), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), 2016-2017

Program Chair-Elect, Mechanical Engineering Division (1000+ members in Division), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), 2015-2016

Professional Affiliations

Society Membership:  American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 1994-Present

Member, International Gas Turbine Institute and ASME K-14 Heat Transfer Committee (2013 – present)

Publications

View All

Other Publications

Selected Publications, Last 5 Years:

  1. Benson, M.,  Banko, A., Elkins, C., An, D., Song, S., Bruschewski, M., Grundmann, S., Bandopadhyay, T., Roca, L., Sutton, B., Han, K., Hwang, W., Eaton, J.  MRV challenge 2: phase locked turbulent measurements in a roughness array.  Exp Fluids, 64, 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-023-03572-4.
  2. Banko, A. Gehl, J., Ellwein, B., Iliff, S., Ederle, P., Benson, M., “Measurements of Natural Ventilation Within a Model Sports Stadium Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence.”  Proceedings of the ASME 2023 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Expo: New Orleans, LA, paper no. IMECE2023-112397.
  3. Banko, A., Benson, M., Davidson, F., Zia, W., Bordbar, A., Boyce, C., Thole, K.  “Effects of Surface Roughness on Three-Dimensional Flow Structure Within Shaped Film Cooling Holes.”  2023 IGTI Turbo Expo Conference: Accepted.
  4. Dacunto, P., Ng A., Moser, D., Tovkach A., Scanlon, S., Benson, M. 2022.  Effects of location, classroom orientation, and air change rate on potential aerosol exposure: an experimental and computational study.  Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts, 24, 557-566, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EM00434D.
  5. Bruschewski, M., John, K, Benson, M., Grundmann, S. Combined Temperature and Velocity Field Measurements in Thermal Fluid Systems with Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry. Tm- Technisches Messen, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2021-0122.
  6. Hirn, M.., Rodriguez, A., Owkes, M., Dacunto, P., Ng, A., Rogers, J., Benson, M., “Aerosol Dispersion Modeling With a Low-Cost Flow Simulation Tool: Analysis of Performance and Boundary Condition Sensitivity.”  Proceedings of the ASME 2022 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Expo: Columbus, OH, paper no. IMECE2022- 95997.
  7. Eckstein, A., Banko, A., Benson, M., “Unsteady Dynamics of a Low Aspect Ratio Mixing Layer.”  Proceedings of the ASME 2022 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Expo: Columbus, OH, paper no. IMECE2022-94876.
  8. Banko, A., Homan, T., Benson, M., Elkins, C., “Measurements of 3D Transport Boundaries with Urban Canopies Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.” 12th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomenon: Virtual Conference, 19-22 July 2022, paper ID 296.
  9. Colpo, M., Homan, T., Zalar, Z., Benson, M., Banko, A., “Three-Dimensional Measurements of Flow and Scalar Dispersion Through a Stadium Using MRI.” 12th International Symposium on Turbulence and Shear Flow Phenomenon: Virtual, 19-22 July 2022, paper ID 443.
  10. Davidson, T., Helmer, D., Parker, C., Cox, L., Kahn, K., Elkins, C., Clark, J., Humbert, N., Van Poppel, B., and Benson, M.  Detailed velocity and heat transfer measurements of an advanced insert for impingement cooling.  Int J Heat Mass Transf, April 2022; 185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.122066
  11. Benson, M. J., Bindon, D., Cooper, M., Davidson, F., Duhaime, B., Helmer, D., Woodings, R., Van Poppel, B. P., Elkins, C. J., and Clark, J. P. Detailed Velocity and Heat Transfer Measurements in an Advanced Gas Turbine Vane Insert Using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry and Infrared Thermometry." ASME. J. Turbomach. February 2022; 144(2): 021009.  https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4052310
  12. Homan TA, Benson MJ, Banko AJ, Elkins CJ, Chung DH, Rhee J, Mooradian LD, Eaton JK, Magnetic Resonance Imaging measurements of scalar dispersion for a scaled urban transient release, Building and Environment 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108163.
  13. Dacunto, P., Moser, D., Ng, A., Benson, M.  Classroom Aerosol Dispersion: Desk Spacing and Divider Impacts. Int J Environ. Sci. Technol. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03564-z.
  14. Doshi, P., Fuhrman, G., Moser, D., Benson, M., “Three-Dimensional Velocity and Concentration Measurements of Contaminant Release in a Scaled Urban Array.”  Proceedings of the ASME 2021 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Expo: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2021-73756.
  15. Humbert, N., Galante, J., Davidson, F.T., Helmer, D., Elkins, C., Tamm, G., Benson, M.  “Velocity and Heat Transfer Studies of an Impinging Jet using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry and Infrared Thermometry.”  Proceedings of the ASME 2021 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Expo: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2021-71713.
  16. Dacunto, P., Moser, D., Tovkach, A., Scanlon, S., Ng, A., Benson, M.  “Classroom Aerosol Dispersion:  Impact of Classroom Orientation and Instructor Location on Potential Exposure.”  ISIAQ Healthy Buildings 2021 – America, paper no. 222.
  17. Brown, A., Clemenson, M., Benson, M., Elkins, C., Jones, S.  An Urban Dispersion Inspired Scenario for CFD Model Validation.  Fire Safety Journal 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2020.103130.
  18. Benson, M., Elkins, C., Song, S., An, Don-Gwan, Bruschewski, M., Grundman, S., John, K., Banko, A., Borup, D., Eaton, J.  The 2019 Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry Challenge.  Experiments in Fluids 2020, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-020-02986-8.
  19. Owkes, M., Benson, M., Elkins, C., Wilde, N., Van Poppel, B. Three-Dimensional Velocity and Concentration Measurements and Simulations of a Scaled Jack Rabbit II Mock Urban Array.  Atmospheric Environment 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117520.
  20. Wang, Y., Benson, M.  (2020) Large-eddy simulation of turbulent flows over an urban building array with the ABLE-LBM and comparison with 3D MRI observed data sets.  Enviro Fluid Mech, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10652-020-09770-6.
  21. Banko, A., Benson, M., Gunady, I., Elkins, C, Eaton, J.  An Improved 3-Dimensional Concentration Measurement Technique Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.  Exp Fluids 2020, 61, 53, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-020-2889-9.
  22. Benson, M., Chung, D., Fuhrman, G., Helmer, D., Homan, T., Mooradian, L., Rhee, J., Elkins, C.,  Banko, A.  “Three-Dimensional Concentration and Velocity Measurements of a Pulsatile Contaminant Release in a Model of Oklahoma City.”  Proceedings of the ASME 2020 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Expo: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2020-23648.
  23. Benson, M., Bindon, D., Cooper, M., Davidson, F., Duhaime, B., Helmer, D., Woodings, R., Van Poppel, B., Elkins, C., Clark, J.  “Detailed Velocity and Heat Transfer Measurements in an Advanced Gas Turbine Vane Insert using MRV and IR Thermometry.”  2020 IGTI Turbo Expo Conference: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2020-14984.
  24. Benson, M., Wilde, N., Brown, A., Elkins, C.  Detailed Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurements of a Contaminant Dispersed in an Oklahoma City Model.  Atmospheric Environment 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2019.117129.
  25. Benson, M., Van Poppel, B., Elkins, C. and Owkes, M. Three Dimensional Velocity And Temperature Field Measurements Of Internal And External Turbine Blade Features Using Magnetic Resonance Thermometry.  J Turbomach 2019, 141(7), 071011, https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4043151.
  26. Shim, G., Prasad, D., Elkins, C., Eaton, J., Benson, M. 3D MRI Measurements of the Effects of Wind Direction on Flow Characteristics and Contaminant Dispersion in a Model Urban Canopy.  Environ Fluid Mech 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-019-09676-y.
  27. Benson, M., Elkins, C., Cooper, M., and Van Poppel, B. “Magnetic Resonance Thermometry: An Emerging Three-dimensional Temperature Diagnostic Technique.” ASME 2019 Summer Heat Transfer Conference, Bellevue, Washington, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/HT2019-3484.
  28. Bellocchio, A., Benson, M., Van Poppel, B., Norberg, S., Benz, R.  “A Re-envisioned Gas Turbine Laboratory for an Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Program.” 2019 IGTI Turbo Expo Conference: Phoenix, AZ, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2019-91616.
  29. Brown, A., Clemenson, M, Lance, B., Elkins, C., Benson, M. “Atmospheric Flow Validation for Contaminant Transport.”  2019 American Society of Mechanical Engineering Verification and Validation Symposium:  Las Vegas, NV, paper no VVS2019-5191.
  30. Tamm, G., Cooper, M., Benson, M., and Van Poppel, B. “Experimental Study of a Turbulent Impinging Jet in an Undergraduate Heat Transfer Laboratory.” American Society of Thermal and Fluids Engineers (ASTFE) 4th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, Las Vegas, NV, paper no TFEC-2019-27644.
  31. Fisk, B, Van Poppel, B., Benson, M., Tamm G., Peters, A., and German, A., “Undergraduate Internal Flow Convection Heat Transfer Laboratory.” American Society of Thermal and Fluids Engineers (ASTFE) 4th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, Las Vegas, NV, paper no TFEC-2019-27539.
  32. Brown, A., Benavidez, E., Clemenson, M., Benson, M., Elkins, C. “Contaminant Dispersion Validation Simulations for an Urban Inspired Scenario.”  American Society of Thermal and Fluids Engineers (ASTFE) 4th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference: Las Vegas, NV, paper no TFEC-2019-27454.
  33. Siegel, N., Schlenker, A., Sullivan, K., Valdez, I., Rodebaugh, G., Elkins, C., Van Poppel, B., Benson, M. “Design and Analysis of a Spin Stabilized Projectile Using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry.”  2019 AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition, San Diego, CA, DOI 10.2514/6.2019-0843.

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