Dr. Lionel Hewavitharana

Dr. Lionel Hewavitharana obtained his BS degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 1984. After his graduation, he worked as a mechanical engineer for a year and joined the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka as an Instructor. He taught Heat Transfer, Heat transfer and Thermodynamics Labs and engaged in research activities related to rice bran stabilization for about nine years. In 1994, he became a graduate student at Louisiana Tech University.  He obtained his MS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1997 and earned PhD in 2003.  He specialized in Thermal and Fluid Sciences for both of his graduate degrees. In the academic year 2002-2003, he taught at the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. Dr. Hewavitharana became an instructor in the Mechanical Engineering Program at Louisiana Tech University in 2003 and taught Statics, Strength of Materials, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Fluid Mechanics Labs. In 2007, he joined the Ventech Engineering and its subsidiary company as a mechanical engineer. In January 2012, he joined the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department of the University of Central Florida (UCF) and became the lead instructor in Capstone Design. In addition to teaching the MAE Capstone Design course at UCF, Dr. Hewavitharana also taught Heat transfer, Measurements, Solid Mechanics, Dynamics of Machinery, and engaged in academic and professional advising. During his tenure at UCF, he led the MAE department effort to develop a $200,000 dedicated studio facility for Capstone Design.

Dr. Hewavitharana’s research interests are in the area of Thermal and Fluid Sciences.  In Thermal and Fluid Science area, he is especially interested in Macro and Micro Energy Systems, Numerical Heat Transfer, and Experimental Heat Transfer.