Aerothermal engineer wiring instrumentation on an engine-scale turbine test rig in a laboratory

Engineering portfolio & technical log

Lucas Rey

Aerothermal & mechanical engineer

Welcome to my digital logbook. I am specialised in advanced fluid dynamics and heat transfer. I use this site to share my portfolio and document my work in high-fidelity CFD, FEA, and experimental validation.

In my recent work at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute with Rolls-Royce, I focused on aerothermal analysis of cooled aircraft engine components.

Oxford Thermofluids Institute
Experiments · CFD · FEA
Based in UK/EU
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Research & affiliations


Coat of arms of St Anne's College, University of Oxford.

Coat of arms of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge.

Technical toolkit

A selection of software tools in which I am proficient for aerothermal analysis and simulation.

Two intertwined geometric "snakes" forming a square with rounded corners. The top snake is blue with a white eye facing upward, and the bottom snake is yellow with a white eye facing downward. They curve around each other in 180-degree rotational symmetry, creating a balanced puzzle-piece effect.
A logo featuring a graphical icon on the left and text on the right. The icon is a light blue 3D isometric cube, divided by white grid lines into a 3x3 pattern of smaller squares on each of its three visible faces. To the right, the word "NumPy" is written in a bold, blue sans-serif font, with the 'N' and 'P' capitalized.
An abstract, three-dimensional symbol forming the shape of the letter 'S'. The shape resembles a flowing ribbon or an intertwined serpent with soft, curved edges. The left and middle sections are a vibrant blue, flowing seamlessly into a bright yellow-orange section on the right, suggesting fluid data or scientific curves.
An abstract geometric logo composed of four vertical columns arranged in a row. The two outer columns are tall, solid navy-blue rectangles. The two inner columns are segmented: the second column features a bright yellow square sandwiched between two navy blocks, and the third column features a bright pink square sandwiched between two navy blocks. The arrangement resembles a coded data grid or barcode.
A circular polar plot graphic with a grey grid of concentric circles and radial lines. Several colored data wedges fan out from the center: a large yellow wedge at the top-left, an orange wedge at the bottom-right, a teal wedge at the bottom, and smaller light green and blue wedges interspersed. The design resembles a complex radar chart or pie graph.
A round emblem with a rim composed of two layers: a blue rim outside a white rim. Inside, a stylized landscape depicts two overlapping smooth waves or mountains (one blue, one grey) against a white sky dotted with grey stars. In the foreground, a crisp blue bar chart rises like a city skyline, contrasting with the smooth waves behind it.
An abstract graphic consisting of two dynamic, interlinked curved paths that form a stylized sphere or loop. A bright orange path sweeps downward from the upper-left, intersecting with a teal path sweeping upward from the lower-left. Both paths end in small circular nodes, representing the continuous cycle of machine learning algorithms and data processing.
A minimalist orange icon consisting of a thick line forming an open loop or stylized flame shape, with a solid orange dot floating near the opening at the top right. The simplified design evokes a spark or a chemical drop, representing the dynamic energy of deep learning.
A set of orange cubes forming two letters: a 'T' and a perpendicular 'F'. Light coming from the top right creates shadows on the blocks, giving the structure a 3D appearance.
The text "OpenFOAM" in a bold sans-serif font. A distinct blue outline of an inverted triangle sits wedged between the word "Open" and "FOAM," pointing downward like a funnel or flow separation point.
Three thick, colored rectangular bars stacked vertically but offset diagonally to the right, floating in white space. The left bar is red, the middle bar is green, and the right bar is blue. The bars are slanted, creating a sense of forward motion and representing distinct data channels or fluid layers flowing in parallel.
The word "LaTeX" written in a black serif typeface (Computer Modern). The letters are positioned with specific vertical offsets to demonstrate typesetting precision: the 'L' is large and tall, the 'a' is smaller and raised (superscript), the 'T' is standard height, the 'e' is lowered (subscript), and the 'X' is standard height.
A glossy, 3D-rendered cartoon penguin (Tux) sitting facing forward against a transparent background. He features a smooth black head and back, a white belly, and large, webbed yellow feet sticking out to the front. His yellow beak is closed in a subtle smile, and his large eyes look slightly to the left.
A logo featuring a graphical icon on the left and text on the right. The icon is a red square rotated 45 degrees into a diamond shape, containing white lines branching into a 'Y' shape with circular nodes, representing a code merge. To the right, the word "git" is written in a bold, dark brown serif typeface.
A black circular icon containing the white silhouette of the "Octocat" head and shoulders. The silhouette shows cat ears and a round face, with a curled tentacle arm waving from the bottom left, creating a playful, negative-space character design.
A dark grey hexagonal shape appearing as a 3D isometric cube. On the front face, there is a white dollar sign ($) followed by a bright green underscore (_), representing a command-line prompt cursor.

Core expertise

Experimental methods

Execution of aerothermal campaigns in high-speed test facilities.

Infrared thermography (HTC mapping)
Pneumatic & multi-hole probing
Fast-response data acquisition
Optical metrology & 3D scanning

See experimental projects →

Computational methods

High-fidelity simulations of internal flows and heat transfer.

CFD (RANS/URANS) & CHT
Finite element analysis (FEA)
High-performance computing (HPC)
Data-driven & AI models

Explore simulations →

Analysis & modelling

Turning raw measurements and simulations into design guidance.

Dimensional analysis & scaling
Low-order system modelling
Uncertainty quantification
Techno-economic assessment

Read reports →

Featured research: high-speed heat transfer

My multi-year research at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute investigates aerodynamic deterioration and cooling. I combine transient facility data, advanced instrumentation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to quantify how surface roughness (erosion) and internal geometry affect heat-exchange capacity, metal temperatures and component lifespan.

Read case study

Engine-scale experimental turbine facility used for high-speed heat transfer and aerothermal research at the Oxford Thermofluids Institute
Engine-scale experimental facility, Oxford.

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Projects

A detailed log of experimental campaigns, CFD/FEA studies, and design engineering work.

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Publications

Peer-reviewed journal papers, manuscripts, and reports from my research at Oxford.

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Ventures

Entrepreneurial work, competitive sport and instruction in Sardinia.

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Contact me

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