- Domain: Aerothermal engineering, high-speed heat transfer, and SME operational scaling.
- Current focus: Rolls-Royce HPT deterioration research at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute.
- Status: Available for R&D roles, consulting, and academic partnerships.
Lucas Rey
Aerothermal systems engineer
I work at the interface of high-speed thermofluids, experimental instrumentation, and capital-constrained engineering systems.
DPhil candidate at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute, sponsored by Rolls-Royce.
How I work
- Close the loop: Anchor high-fidelity computational models (CFD/FEA) with rigorous physical experiments.
- Build the system: Engineer the hardware and instrumentation, not just the simulation.
- Quantify certainty: Map strict uncertainty propagation before optimizing parameters.
- Scale pragmatically: Deploy capital efficiently within constrained operational environments.
Core capabilities
I build and validate models that survive contact with hardware and operations.
Experimental
- High-speed facility testing
- Instrumentation & DAQ
- Infrared thermography
Computational
- CFD (RANS/URANS)
- Thermal & structural FEA
- Reduced-order modelling
Operational
- Facility management
- Capital-efficient scaling
- Strategic grant funding
Technical Toolkit
Featured Research
High-speed heat transfer
- Problem: Standard correlations fail for engine-run turbine components.
- Method: Transient experimental validation at engine-scale combined with high-fidelity CFD.
- Outcome: Quantified how surface roughness and erosion redistribute coolant flow.
- Impact: Enables data-driven maintenance intervals for civil jet engines.
Featured Venture
Strategic scaling
- Problem: Transitioning a bootstrapped mobile school into an integrated tourism hub.
- Method: Secured competitive Piano Sulcis funding to scale physical infrastructure.
- Outcome: Built the Punta Trettu Kite Center with 1,000+ verified guest reviews.
- Impact: Sustainable regional economic diversification and profitable infrastructure.
Available for technically rigorous R&D and institutional collaboration.