Wai Cheng

Research Interests

• Engine performance and emissions
• Combustion science related to engine behavior
• Novel energy conversion means
• Impact of transportation system on quality of life and society

Bio

Online Data

Honors + Awards

• 2004 Society of Automotive Engineers Oral Presentation Award
• 2003 Fellow, Society of Automotive Engineers
• 2002 Society of Automotive Engineers Oral Presentation Award
• 1984 Society of Automotive Engineers Teetor Award
• 1982 Carl Richard Soderberg Professorship in Power and Propulsion
• 1975 Lester Gardner Fellow

Related Experience

• 2009 – Present:    Director, Sloan Automotive Lab, MIT
• 1980 - Present:    Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT,    Assistant Professor; Associate Professor; Professor
• 1978 - 1980    Aerodyne Research Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts; Senior Research Scientist
• 1974 - 1978    Gas Turbine Lab., MIT; Graduate Research Assistant
• 1973 - 1974    Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, California;     Engineer, Advanced Projects Group

Memberships

• Society of Automotive Engineers

Professional Service

• 2002 – 2019    Member of the editorial board, International Journal of Engine Research
• 1994 - 1996    Associate editor, Internal Combustion Engines, ASME J. of Gas Turbines and Power

MIT Service

• 2013-present Committee on Library System
• 2013-present Committee on transportation and Parking
• 2011-present Graduate Admission Committee
• 2008-2010 Graduate Admission Committee
• 2004-2007 Graduate Admission Committee
• 2007 Div. II Faculty Search Committee
• 1998-2004 ME Sophomore Registration Officer
• 1989-1992 Div. II Faculty Search Committee
• 1990-1991 Graduate Admission Committee
• 1980-1987 Graduate Admission Committee

Teaching

• Thermal Fluids Engineering I (2.005)
• Thermal Fluids Engineering II (2.006)
• Project Development Process (2.009)
• General Thermodynamics (2.42)
• Internal Combustion Engines (2.61)
• Measurement and Instrumentation (2.671)

Publications

1.  McKenzie, J. and Cheng, W., "The Anatomy of Knock," SAE Technical Paper 2016-01-0704, 2016, doi:10.4271/2016-01- 0704.
2.  Rodriguez, J. and Cheng, W., "Cycle-by-cycle analysis of cold crank-start in a GDI engine," SAE Int. J. Engines 9(2):2016, doi:10.4271/2016-01-0824
3.  Rodriguez, J. and Cheng, W., "Reduction of Cold-Start Emissions through Valve Timing in a GDI Engine," SAE Int. J. Engines 9(2):2016, doi:10.4271/2016-01-0827.
4. Rodriguez, J., and Cheng, W., “Fuel carbon pathway in the first cranking cycle of a gasoline direct injection engine,” Int. J of Eng. Research, Vol. 17(6) (2016), pp 690–701; DOI: 10.1177/1468087415609852.
5. Chen, Y., Wolk, B., Mehl, M, Cheng, W.K., Chen, J.Y., Dibble, R.W., “Development of a reduced chemical mechanism targeted for a 5-component gasoline surrogate: A case study on the heat release nature in a GCI engine," Combustion and Flame 178 (2017), pp 268–276.
6. Oh, C. and Cheng, W., "Assessment of Gasoline Direct Injection Engine Cold Start Particulate Emission Sources," SAE Int. J. Engines 10(4):2017, doi:10.4271/2017-01-0795.
7. Rodriguez, J. and Cheng, W., "Analysis of NOx Emissions during Crank-Start and Cold Fast-Idle in a GDI Engine," SAE Int. J. Engines 10(2):646-655, 2017, doi:10.4271/2017-01-0796.
8. Chen, Y., Zhang, Y., and Cheng, W., "Effects of Ethanol Evaporative Cooling on Particulate Number Emissions in GDI Engines," SAE Technical Paper 2018-01-0360, 2018, https://doi.org/10.4271/2018-01-0360.
9. Anandhan, M. and Cheng, W., "Performance Assessment of Extended Stroke Spark Ignition Engine," SAE Technical Paper 2018-01-0893, 2018, https://doi.org/10.4271/2018-01-0893.
10. Ketterer, J.E. and  Cheng, W., “A Study of Soot Formation in a Rapid Compression Machine at Conditions Representative of Cold-fast-idle in Spark Ignition Engines,” Int. J. of Engine Research, 20, 6, pp 670-677, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1177/1468087418777663

Patents

Detection of ethanol emission from a spark ignition engine, US Patent 8589084, filed 10/8/2010; issued 11/18/2013.