2011-2016, University of Florida, Doctor of Philosophy
2008-2010, University of Colorado at Boulder, Master of Science
2004-2008, University of Science and Technology of China, Bachelor of Science

2019-Present, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Associate Professor
2016-2018, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Post-doctor

Vortex is the "sinew and muscle" of fluid motion, and its essence is the interaction of forces and the transport of momentum. The dynamics of vortex is the source of many unsteady and unstable flow phenomena, and is also an essential element of turbulence. Presently, a prevalent challenge encountered in developing different kinds of engines is combustion instability, which is a complex mechanism involving the interactions among spray and atomization, chemical reaction, thermofluid, and even sound waves. To this end, my primary research interest is applying vortex dynamical analysis as well as experimental and numerical approaches to understand the flow and flame instabilities associated with spray combustion. Flow and flame control techniques are developed to suppress the source of instabilities, thereby improving combustion stability and performance. These will be achieved via the following research thrusts:

Theoretical study
1. Vortex dynamics
2. Unsteady aerodynamics

Application
1. Spray combustion
2. Combustion instability
3. Synthetic jet and flow control

2021-2024, NSFC 92041001 "Multi-physics field measurement of turbulent two-phase combustion and study on combustion evolution for aeroengine combustors", sub-project principle investigator
2021-2024, NSFC 12072194 "Investigation on the aerodynamical mechanism of binary droplet collision in air crossflow", principle investigator
2021-2023, NSFC 52006139 "Investigation on the vortex breakdown mechanism in swirling flames based on high spatial-temporal-resolved laser diagnostics", principle investigator
2020-2023, STCSM 20YF1420600 "Characterization and vortex-dynamical mechanism of air-blast atomization induced by synthetic jet", principle investigator
2017-2019, HKPolyU G-YBXN, "Hypergolic Ignition Induced by Propellant Droplet Collision", core participant
2017-2018, GRF PolyU 152651/16E, "Experimental and Numerical Investigation on the Collision of Binary Droplets of Shear-Thinning Fluids in Atmospheric Air", core participant
2015-2018, HKPolyU G-YBGA, "Experimental Study and Large Eddy Simulation of Slotted Swirler Combustion", core participant

SCI Journal papers
[26] Qiuxiao Wang, Yongzhi Ren, Mingming Gu, Bowen Yu, Xiaoxing Feng, Xi Xia*, and Fei Qi*, Emergence of central recirculation zone in a V-shaped premixed swirling flame, under review (2022).
[25] Yongzhi Ren, Qiuxiao Wang, Mingming Gu, Xiaoxing Feng, Bowen Yu, Xi Xia*, and Fei Qi*, Dynamical V-to-M flame transition in a novel premixed swirl burner, under review (2022).
[24] Yifan Yang, Haodong Zhang, Xi Xia*, Peng Zhang, and Fei Qi, An experimental study of the blue whirl onset, under review (2022).
[23] Yongjie Chen, Jue Ding, Xi Xia*, and Peifen Weng*, Reconstruction-based Monte Carlo method for accurate and efficient breakage simulation, under review (2022).
[22] Sirui Wang, Jianyi Zheng, Liangliang Xu, Qiang An, Xiao Han, Chi Zhang, Lei Li*, Xi Xia*, and Fei Qi, Experimental investigation of the helical mode in a stratified swirling flame, under review (2022).
[21] Sirui Wang, Jianyi Zheng, Lei Li, Zifeng Yang, Xi Xia, Chen Fu, Yi Gao, Xunchen Liu, Xiao Han, Chi Zhang, and Fei Qi, Evolution characteristics of 3D vortex structures in stratified swirling flames studied by dual-plane stereoscopic PIV, Combustion and Flame 237, 111874 (2022). Download
[20] Chenwei Zhang, Zhenyu Zhang, Kun Wu, Xi Xia, and Xuejun Fan, Atomization of misaligned impinging liquid jets, Physics of Fluids 33, 093311 (2021). (Featured article & Scilight) Download
[19] Guoqing Wang, Thibault F. Guiberti, Xi Xia, Lei Li, Xunchen Liu, William L. Roberts, and Fei Qi, Decomposition of swirling flame transfer function in the complex space, Combustion and Flame 228, 29-41 (2021). Download
[18] Xi Xia, Chen Fu, Yifan Yang, Xiaoyuan Yang, Yi Gao*, and Fei Qi*, Vortex formation and frequency tuning of periodically-excited jet diffusion flames, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 38, 2067-2074 (2021). Download
[17] Haodong Zhang, Xi Xia*, and Yi Gao*, Instability transition of a jet diffusion flame in quiescent environment, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 38, 4971-4978 (2021). Download
[16] Guoqing Wang, Xunchen Liu, Xi Xia*, Shaojie Wang, and Fei Qi*, Dynamics of periodically-excited vortices in swirling flames, Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 38, 6183-6191 (2021). Download
[15] Zhongqiu Li, Chen Fu, Yi Gao, Xi Xia, Wenhao Yuan, Dehao Ju, and Fei Qi, Investigation on spray and combustion characteristics of boron/ethanol nanofuel utilizing 50 kHz repetition rate high-speed laser measurements, Fuel 287, 119562 (2020). Download
[14] Chengming He, Xi Xia, and Peng Zhang, Vortex-dynamical implications of nonmonotonic viscous dissipation of off-center droplet bouncing, Physics of Fluids 32, 032004 (2020). (Featured article) Download
[13] Xi Xia, Chengming He, and Peng Zhang, Universality in the viscous-to-inertial coalescence of liquid droplets, PNAS 116, 23467-23472 (2019). Download
[12] Tao Yang, Xi Xia, and Peng Zhang, Vortex-dynamical interpretation of anti-phase and in-phase flickering of dual buoyant diffusion flames, Physical Review Fluids 4, 053202 (2019). Download
[11] Chengming He, Xi Xia, and Peng Zhang, Non-monotonic viscous dissipation of bouncing droplets undergoing off-center collision, Physics of Fluids 31, 052004 (2019). Download
[10] Xuren Zhu, Xi Xia, and Peng Zhang, Stability of Buoyant Inverse Diffusion Methane Flames with Confinement Effects, Combustion Science and Technology 191, (2019). Download
[9] Xi Xia and Peng Zhang, A vortex-dynamical scaling theory for flickering buoyant diffusion flames, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 855, 1156-1169 (2018). Download
[8] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Transitional region of a round synthetic jet, Physical Review Fluids 3, 011901(R) (2018). Download
[7] Xuren Zhu#, Xi Xia#, and Peng Zhang, Near-field flow stability of buoyant methane/air inverse diffusion flames, Combustion and Flame 191, 66-75 (2018). Download
[6] Xi Xia, Chengming He, Dehai Yu, Jiaquan Zhao, and Peng Zhang, Vortex-ring-induced internal mixing upon the coalescence of initially stationary droplets, Physical Review Fluids 2, 113607 (2017). Download
[5] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Unsteady aerodynamics and vortex-sheet formation of a two-dimensional airfoil, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 830, 439-478 (2017). Download
[4] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Flow characterization and modeling of strong round synthetic jets in crossflow, AIAA Journal 55, 389-402 (2017). Download
[3] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Parameter governing the far-field features of round jets, Physical Review Fluids 1, 062401(R) (2016). Download
[2] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Far-field momentum flux of high-frequency axisymmetric synthetic jets, Physics of Fluids 27, 115101 (2015). Download
[1] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Lift evaluation of a two-dimensional pitching flat plate, Physics of Fluids 25, 091901 (2013). Download

Conference papers
[12] Xuren Zhu, Xi Xia, and Peng Zhang, Flow and Flame Dynamics of Confined Buoyant Inverse Diffusion Flames, 11th Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion, Sydney, Australia, December 10-14, 2017.
[11] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Unsteady Aerodynamics and Trailing-edge Vortex Sheet of an Airfoil, 54th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, San Diego, California, January 4–8, 2016. doi:10.2514/6.2016-1078
[10] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Enhancing Lift on a Flat Plate Using Vortex Pairs Generated by Synthetic Jet, 53rd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Kissimmee, Florida, January 5–9, 2015. doi:10.2514/6.2015-1932
[9] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Axisymmetric Synthetic Jets: Modeling of the Far-field Momentum Flux, 53rd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Kissimmee, Florida, January 5–9, 2015. doi:10.2514/6.2015-0807
[8] Yiming Xu, Xi Xia, and Kamran Mohseni, Modeling and Simulation of a Fish-like Swimmer in an Ideal Flow with Lateral-line Flow Sensors, AIAA SciTech 2015, Kissimmee, Florida, January 5–9, 2015. doi:10.2514/6.2015-1082
[7] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, A Flat Plate with Unsteady Motion: Effect of Angle of Attack on Vortex Shedding, 52nd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, National Harbor, Maryland, January 13–17, 2014. doi:10.2514/6.2014-0746
[6] X. Xia and K. Mohseni, Modeling of 2D Unsteady Motion of a Flat Plate using Potential Flow, 31st AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, San Diego, California, June 24–27, 2013. doi:10.2514/6.2013-2819
[5] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Lift on a Moving Flat Plate, 51st AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition, Grapevine, Texas, January 07–10, 2013. doi:10.2514/6.2013-838
[4] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Trapped Vortex on a Flat Plate: Equilibrium and Stability, 42nd AIAA Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 25–28, 2012. doi:10.2514/6.2012-3156
[3] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Axisymmetric Synthetic Jets: A Momentum-based Modeling Approach, 50th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition, Nashville, Tennessee, January 09–12, 2012. doi:10.2514/6.2012-1246
[2] Xi Xia, Kamran Mohseni, and G. Krishnan, An Experimental Investigation of Synthetic Jet in a Coflow Wake, 40th Fluid Dynamics Conference and Exhibit, Chicago, Illinois, June 28–July 01, 2010. doi:10.2514/6.2010-4594
[1] Xi Xia and Kamran Mohseni, Modeling and Experimental Investigation of Synthetic Jets in Cross-flow, 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition, Orlando, Florida, January 04–07, 2010. doi:10.2514/6.2010-106

Undergraduate:
Combustion, 2021-present
Introduction to Engineering, 2019-present

Graduate:
Advanced Combustion Theory (English course), 2021-present

2021 Young Investigator of the Asia-Pacific Conference on Combustion
2020 Shanghai High-level Young Talent
2016 Student Research Award (University of Florida)
2016 Nomination for National Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad
2012 Outstanding Academic Achievement (University of Florida)