Josiah D. Knight, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Josiah D. Knight

The goal of Professor Knight's research in lubrication is to develop reliable and efficient methods of determining the temperatures and pressures in a lubricant film in order to predict the forces contributed by the film to the dynamics of a rotating shaft. The current focus is on examining the effects of internal heat generation and heat transfer between the film and its surroundings and the interaction between thermal effects and cavitation. Bearings are analyzed as components of turbomachine dynamic systems for purposes of forced vibration analysis, prediction of stability and transient motion calculations. This research involves the study of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and dynamics.

In the related area of rotor dynamics, research is underway on the application of magnetic suspension to the control of vibrations in rotating machinery. Magnetic bearings and actuators have the potential to improve dramatically the safety, reliability and efficiency of turbomachinery, with applications in power generation, transportation, chemical and manufacturing industries. This work combines aspects of the study of linear and nonlinear vibrations and control theory.

Office Location:  175 Hudson Hall
Office Phone:  (919) 660-5337
Email Address: send me a message

Teaching (Spring 2026):

  • ME 461.01, ENERGY ENG AND ENVIRONMENT Synopsis
    Hudson 216, TuTh 10:05 AM-11:20 AM
  • ME 490.02, SPECIAL TOPICS Synopsis
    Hudson 222, TuTh 03:05 PM-04:20 PM
  • ME 490.06, SPECIAL TOPICS Synopsis
    Hudson 139, M 04:55 PM-07:25 PM
  • ME 490.10, SPECIAL TOPICS Synopsis
    Hudson 139, M 06:15 PM-08:45 PM

Education:

  • Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1986
  • M.S., University of Virginia, 1982
  • B.S., University of Virginia, 1980

Research Interests:

Fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and dynamics

Recent Publications

  (More Publications)

  1. Plaut, RH; Virgin, LN; Knight, JD, Predicting critical speeds in various rotordynamics problems, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, vol. 231 no. 21 (November, 2017), pp. 3913-3922, SAGE Publications [doi]  [abs]
  2. Knight, JD; Virgin, LN; Plaut, RH, Predicting Critical Speeds in Rotordynamics: A New Method, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, vol. 744 no. 1 (October, 2016), pp. 012155-012155, IOP Publishing [doi]  [abs]
  3. Virgin, LN; Knight, JD; Plaut, RH, A New Method for Predicting Critical Speeds in Rotordynamics, Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, vol. 138 no. 2 (February, 2016), pp. 022504-022504, ASME International, ISSN 0742-4795 [doi]  [abs]
  4. Richter, DD; Jenkins, DH; Karakash, JT; Knight, J; McCreery, LR; Nemestothy, KP, Resource policy. Wood energy in America., Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 323 no. 5920 (March, 2009), pp. 1432-1433, AAAS [19286539], [doi]
  5. Richter, DDBJ; Jenkins, DH; Karakash, JT; Knight, J; Mccreery, LR; Nemestothy, KP, Wood Energy: The Dangers of Combustion Response, Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 324 no. 5933 (2009), pp. 1390-1391, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), ISSN 0036-8075 [doi]

x