Dr. David Naylor
Areas of Academic Interest
Heat transfer
Laser interferometry
Engineering education
Spotlight
Seeing isn’t just believing. It’s also why David Naylor and his graduate students get so excited about their work. An expert in heat transfer, Naylor is improving energy conservation through numerical simulations that combine heat-transfer measurements with flow visualization.
Naylor’s research utilizes a unique apparatus called a laser interferometer that makes optical measurements of heat transfer. A mechanical engineer, Naylor built this remarkable machine himself. “It’s one of only a few in Canada that can visualize heat transfer,” he says. “There are many models of fluid dynamics for heat transfer but very few instruments that provide such detailed measurements.”
Hold an open flame up to the machine’s beam splitter and it projects a glowing, real-time image of the temperature field surrounding the flame. The image is so mesmerizing that it’s easy to see why Naylor gets so fired up about his research.
“One of the best parts of being a mechanical engineer is that you get to work with really cool machines.”
- Professional Engineers Ontario, Engineering Medal for Research and Development (2014)
- Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering (2013)
- Fellow, Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineers (2004)
- Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Toronto Metropolitan University (2016)
- Foroushani, S., Wright, J.L., and Naylor, D., “Convection at the Indoor Side of Complex Fenestration Systems: The ASHWAT Model Revisited.” Journal of Building Performance Simulation, vol. 12, no. 2, 2019, pp. 133-144.
- Foroushani, S., Naylor, D., and Wright, J.L. “A New Formulation for Convection Problems Entailing Multiple Isothermal Boundaries.” International Journal of Thermal Sciences, vol. 129, 2018, pp. 396-403.
- Naylor, D., Foroushani, S.S.M., and Zalcman, D. “Free Convection Heat Transfer From a Window Glazing With an Insect Screen.” Energy and Buildings, vol. 135, 2017, pp. 206-214.
- Yousefi, T., Farahbakhsh, B., Naylor, D., and Saghir, M.Z. “Thermal Field Visualization of Nanofluids Using Full-field Interferometry.” International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 65, 2015, pp. 125-129.
- Roeleveld, D., Naylor, D., and Leong, W.H. “Free Convection in Antisymmetrically Heated Vertical Channels.” ASME Journal of Heat Transfer, vol. 136, no. 1, 2014, article 012502.
- Editor-in-chief, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, Sage Publishing, London, U.K.
- PEng, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)