Kyle Uhlenhake, Ph.D. – Profile
Dr. Kyle Uhlenhake is a Senior Engineer at Colwell Consulting where he specializes in the engineering analysis of fluid and thermal processes, especially regarding the origin, cause, and propagation of fires and explosions. Dr. Uhlenhake has investigated fires and explosions in a diverse range of applications including residential and commercial structures, internal combustion motor vehicles, electric and hybrid motor vehicles, watercraft and marine applications, rail transport applications, heavy equipment applications, chemical mixing processes, and battery packs. Experience within these applications includes fire cause and origin determination, evaluation of ignition mechanisms, fire spread, and burn pattern interpretation.
Dr. Uhlenhake has published peer-reviewed, scientific articles in the areas of ignition mechanisms, combustion analysis, thermodynamic processes, laser diagnostics, and rocket propellants. Applications of his research include better understanding of novel ignition mechanisms and using experimental and computational methods to explain complex combustion processes.
Dr. Uhlenhake has held a graduate research assistant position at Zucrow Laboratories at Purdue University, as well as an undergraduate research assistant position at the Energetic Materials Combustion Laboratory at Iowa State University. Dr. Uhlenhake also has experience as a graduate teaching assistant and has taken coursework in engineering education. He has instructed a laboratory course on combustion of energetic materials, and has lectured engineering courses in combustion, internal combustion engines, and thermodynamics. Dr. Uhlenhake has also held positions at Rolls-Royce Corporation and Caterpillar Inc.
Education
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University
Licenses & Certifications
Fire Investigation 1A: Fire Origin and Cause Determination accredited by the California State Fire Marshal
High Voltage Vehicle Safety Systems Course, Society of Automotive Engineers International
Fundamentals of High Voltage xEV, Safety, and PPE Course, Society of Automotive Engineers International
Fundamentals of Engineering, National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
Professional Honors
Advancing Army Modernization Priorities Undergraduate Program Outstanding Mentor, 2022
Purdue Lozar Fellowship, 2018-2021
Iowa State Cardinal Key Honor Society, 2017-2018
Professional Organizations
Society of Automotive Engineers International
Peer Reviewer
Journal of Propellants, Explosives, and Pyrotechnics
Journal of Propulsion and Power Research
Patents
S. Son, K. Uhlenhake, D. Collard, M. Gomez, “Optical Sensitizer Device and Method for Low-Energy Laser Ignition of Propellants” U.S. Patent Application Publication, US-20220349373-A1
B. Barker, E. Koenig, B. Varney, and K. Uhlenhake, “Airfoil with Dual-Wall Cooling and Angled Cooling Channels” U.S. Patent No. 11,459,901, US-11459901-B1