Jordi Casacuberta

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Numerical Aerodynamics and Flow Stability at TU Delft. My research focuses on the theoretical and computational study of laminar-turbulent transition in aerodynamic boundary layers.

In our group of Flow Control we develop novel laminar wings to significantly reduce the pollutant emissions. Follow us and join the revolution on super-efficient aircraft wings since aviation will be green, or will not be.

Making aviation greener through aerodynamics.
Jordi Casacuberta

Research

I.

Physical understanding of passive wing-flow control & laminarization

Investigating the mechanisms by which smooth and sharp surface features passively stabilize the stationary crossflow instability.

II.

Optimization of wing-surface reliefs for flow control

Developing Bayesian-optimization frameworks coupled to Harmonic Navier-Stokes solvers to design optimal wing-surface reliefs for flow control.

III.

Mathematical modelling of boundary-layer instability

Establishing a uniform mathematical framework uniting how Tollmien-Schlichting and crossflow instabilities interact with inhomogeneities through production.

IV.

Mechanisms of laminar-turbulent transition

Performing Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) to elucidate mechanisms of laminar breakdown, with emphasis on type-II secondary crossflow instabilities.

V.

System identification for effective instability manipulation

Creating data-driven frameworks to isolate key base-flow features for effective instability control and transition prediction.

Repository

Open-source code to simulate and model wing-flow boundary layer and instability (OpenFOAM and Julia):

AirPower

Publications and conference talks

2026

Transition of swept-wing boundary-layer flow induced by a forward-facing step

J. Casacuberta, K. J. Groot, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · J. Fluid Mech. 1041, A19

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2026

Selective Frequency Damping as an outlet strategy for attenuating boundary-layer instability waves

J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel · Wave-Ned 2026, Delft, The Netherlands

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2026

Effect of localised wall heating on crossflow instability in a swept-wing boundary layer

G. Barocco, Y. Chen, M. Barahona, J. Casacuberta · 14th TSFP, Hidelberg, Germany

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2026

Linear and nonlinear interactions between stationary crossflow instabilities and a smooth surface hump

S. Westerbeek, J. Casacuberta, M. Kotsonis · J. Fluid Mech. 1026, A43

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2025

Non-orthogonal plane-marching parabolized stability equations for the secondary instability of crossflow vortices

K. J. Groot, J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel · Comput. & Fluids 306, 106947

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2025

Delay of swept-wing transition using a surface hump

A. F. Rius-Vidales, L. Morais, S. Westerbeek, J. Casacuberta, M. Soyler, M. Kotsonis · J. Fluid Mech. 1014, A35

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2025

Streaky perturbations in swept-wing flow over forward-facing step

J. Casacuberta, S. Westerbeek, J. A. Franco, K. J. Groot, S. Hickel, S. Hein, M. Kotsonis · Phys. Rev. Fluids 10, 023902

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2024

Numerical investigation of crossflow-driven-transition delay through local sharp surface modification

J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel, A. F. Rius-Vidales, M. Kotsonis · 10th IUTAM Symposium, Nagano, Japan

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2024

Passive stabilization of crossflow instabilities by a reverse lift-up effect

J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 043903

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2023

Experimental and numerical investigation into the drag performance of dimpled surfaces in a turbulent boundary layer

O.W.G. van Campenhout et al. · Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow 100, 109110

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2023

Laminar-turbulent transition in swept-wing flows with a supercritical forward-facing step

J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · DLES 2023, ERCOFTAC Series, vol 31, Springer

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2023

How do forward-facing steps promote laminar-turbulent transition of swept-wing flow?

J. Casacuberta, K. J. Groot, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · 14th ERCOFTAC Symposium, Barcelona, Spain

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2022

Direct numerical simulation of interaction between a stationary crossflow instability and forward-facing steps

J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel, S. Westerbeek, M. Kotsonis · J. Fluid Mech. 943, A46

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2022

Secondary instabilities in swept-wing boundary layers: Direct Numerical Simulations and BiGlobal stability analysis

J. Casacuberta, K. J. Groot, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · AIAA 2022-2330

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2022

Laminar-turbulent transition in supercritical forward-facing steps in crossflow

J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · 13th Workshop on Direct and Large-Eddy Simulation, Udine, Italy

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2022

The reverse lift-up effect in crossflow instabilities over surface irregularities

J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · European Drag Reduction and Flow Control Meeting, Paris, France

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2022

Mechanisms of interaction between a stationary crossflow instability and backward-facing steps

O. Krochak, J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · 12th TSFP, Osaka, Japan

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2022

An efficient harmonic Navier-Stokes solver for non-linear stability problems in complex domains

S. Westerbeek, J. Casacuberta, M. Kotsonis · 14th ERCOFTAC SIG 33 Workshop, Cádiz, Spain

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2021

Mechanisms of interaction between stationary crossflow instabilities and forward-facing steps

J. Casacuberta, S. Hickel, M. Kotsonis · AIAA 2021-0854

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2020

Transitional Flow Dynamics Behind a Micro-Ramp

J. Casacuberta, K. J. Groot, Q. Ye, S. Hickel · Flow Turb. Comb. (2020)

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2019

Linear and Non-Linear Dynamics of a Micro-Ramp Wake

K. J. Groot, J. Casacuberta, Q. Ye, S. Hickel · Ercoftac Bulletin 118, March 2019

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2018

Effectivity and Efficiency of Selective Frequency Damping for the Computation of Unstable Steady-State Solutions

J. Casacuberta, K. J. Groot, H. J. Tol, S. Hickel · J. Comput. Phys. 375, 481–497

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2018

Transitional flow dynamics behind a micro-ramp

J. Casacuberta, K. J. Groot, Q. Ye, S. Hickel · 12th ERCOFTAC Symposium, Montpellier, France

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2018

Linear and non-linear dynamics of a micro-ramp wake

K. J. Groot, J. Casacuberta, Q. Ye, S. Hickel · 13th ERCOFTAC SIG 33 Workshop, Paraty, Brazil

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2016

Estimation of wall shear stress using 4D flow cardiovascular MRI and computational fluid dynamics

E. Soudah, J. Casacuberta et al. · J. Mech. Med. Biol. 17, 1750046

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2015

Blood Flow Patterns in Thoracic Aorta using 4D Phase-Contrast MRI and CFD

J. Casacuberta, E. Soudah et al. · ICCB 2015, Barcelona, Spain

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News

August 2026

Presenting at Wave-Ned 2026: Selective Frequency Damping as an outlet strategy for attenuating boundary-layer instability waves.

July 2026

Master student Gaia Barocco presented at the 14th TSFP symposium.