Research Focus
Research novel cooling technologies from theory to practical applications in order to increase gas turbine efficiencies used for propulsion and power generation
Increasing turbine efficiencies lead to reduced fuel usage resulting in a reduction of the carbon footprint. The heart of our research lies in sustainable propulsion and power generation. An important aspect of that work is to create efficient turbines. For that to occur, sophisticated strategies are needed to cool the turbine parts because the temperatures of the gases in the engine are already hundreds of degrees hotter than the melting temperatures of the turbine components. Our research impacts have been on the development of internal and external cooling features for turbine airfoils and combustor walls through detailed heat transfer, thermal field, and flow field measurements on large-scale models and actual engine hardware in a test turbine. These measurements have taken place in two laboratories, built by Dr. Thole, at the Pennsylvania State University with both laboratories being awarded the distinction of being Centers of Excellence in aerodynamics and heat transfer for two different gas turbine manufacturers. Westinghouse Gold Video | NASA ULI Hybrid Propulsion Video 
Recent Collaborations
Karen A. Thole Bio
Dr. Karen A. Thole is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Thole’s expertise is heat transfer and cooling of gas turbine airfoils through detailed experimental and analytical work that have led to greatly improved gas turbine efficiencies and performance. Thole developed several key technologies including one that dramatically reduces vortical structures in airfoil passages resulting in reduced heat transfer. This fundamental work produced advances now used in industry that improve aerodynamics, reduces cooling, and extends component life. She directs the Steady Thermal Aero Research (START) Lab, which focuses on turbine heat transfer, advanced manufacturing, and instrumentation development. Dr. Thole has published over 350 archival journal and conference papers and has supervised over 80 dissertations and theses. Dr. Thole is a member of the U.S. Department of Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. She has served on three National Academy of Engineering study committees related to low carbon aviation, advancing gas turbines, and smart manufacturing. She has been called upon to testify to the US House of Representatives’ Science, Space and Technology Committee on sustainable aviation. Dr. Thole is a Fellow of ASME and AIAA. For her contributions in education, Dr. Thole has been awarded SWE’s Distinguished Engineering Educator Award, the ASME Edwin F. Church Medal in Engineering Education, the ABET Claire L. Felbinger Diversity Award, and the Engineers’ Council Outstanding Engineering Educator Award. For her technical work, she has been recognized by the ASME R. Tom Sawyer Award, the ASME Heat Transfer Memorial Award, the ASME George Westinghouse Gold Medal, the AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion award and the AIAA Thermophysics award. She holds two degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois, and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. For more information, Dr. Thole’s full CV is located here,a student-written story, and her own story is located here.