The presentation will focus on the author’s transition from a mechanical engineer applying the principles of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) concepts to engineering systems to applying them to biological systems. Several topics in which CFD is applied ranging from water lubricated bearings, performance simulation of a novel wood stove and blood flow through the human artery are discussed. The availability of powerful computers in the last 15-20 years had made possible the use of  CFD modeling and simulation software in the above studies. Water lubricated bearings find wide application in boats and ships. These bearings operate on the principle of hydrodynamic lubrication and can be described by the Reynold’s equation which is derived from the continuity and Navier Stokes Equations. The air flow affecting the performance of the novel wood stove is modeled and simulated to suggest changes in the flow path. CFD simulations are used to obtain the flow of blood in the diseased human artery. Patient specific cases of Stenosis and Aneurysms are modeled and simulated to help the clinicians take informed decisions. The advantage of CFD in modeling, meshing and simulation is used to demonstrate how effectively these simulations aid both the engineer and medical professional. As people, more importantly doctor’s across the world realize that the engineer/technologist is an important contributor to the healthy life that an individual can live in today’s world.

Prof. Raghuvir Pai had his primary and secondary education in Manipal and Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in 1982 from Manipal Institute of Technology. He joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, Manipal as lecturer in the same year. In 1988 he went to the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and completed his Doctoral degree in Tribology (lubrication, friction and wear) in 1991. From February 1995 to February 1996 he had worked as a Department of Science and Technology (Government of India), BOYSCAST Postdoctoral research fellow at Cranfield University, Bedford, England. He was promoted as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT in 1997. He has research and teaching experience of 2 years (2000-2002) at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. He has also worked as research Fellow (Dec. 2002 to Feb. 2003), (June 2004 to Sept. 2004) at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. He was the Head of Department Mechanical and IP Engineering at MIT, Manipal in 2004. In February 2005 he was promoted as the Joint Director of MIT Manipal. In August 2006 he was promoted as the Director of the International Centre for Applied Sciences. He was deputed by Manipal University to the Dubai campus as the founder Director of the Engineering program, in August 2008. From June 2011 to July 2012 he was on deputation as founder Dean of Science and Engineering at Manipal International University, Malaysia. He was the Director Research, Manipal University from July 2012 to July 2015. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, India.