Birce Dikici

Title
Associate Professor
Email
Department
Mechanical Engineering Department
College
College of Engineering

Office Hours

9:30 am-10:30 am on Monday and 8:30 am – 10:30 am on Wednesday (or by appointment)

Areas of Expertise

Aluminum Nanoparticle Combustion, Composites, Experimental Fluid Dynamics, Biomass Materials
Birce Dikici

Dr. Dikici holds MSME and Ph.D. degrees from Texas Tech University, having previously earned her BSME with top honors at Gazi University in Turkey. Her Ph.D. specialization delved into the combustion of nanoparticle thermite, encompassing both experimental and analytical investigations. Dr. Dikici designed various experimental systems and pioneered diagnostic methods for characterizing the burning of Aluminum nanoparticles. Her research interests are energy conversion, boiling, solar energy, engineering education and biomass materials. Currently, her primary research involves processing agricultural biomass to produce natural fiber-reinforced polymer (NFRP) composites.

Dr. Dikici also serves as the ASME student section advisor. In this role, she actively encourages mechanical engineering students to engage with the ASME student section, organizing activities to foster interest in the mechanical engineering profession. Notably, the ERAU-ASME Club secured 3rd place out of 24 teams in the 2024 ASME-e-HPVC (Human Powered Vehicle Competition) drag event category. Additionally, the ASME Student Section was selected as the recipient of the Student Section Achievement Award for both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. Dr. Dikici was also recognized as the Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Teacher for 2024, in recognition of her exceptional commitment to teaching and mentorship.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University
  • M.S. - Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University
  • ME 800: Dissertation
  • ES 204: Dynamics
  • ES 320: Engineering Materials Science
  • AE 508: Intermediate Heat Transfer

ES 204 Dynamics

ES 305 Thermodynamics

ES 309 Fluid Dynamics

ES 320 Engineering Materials Science

ME 316 Thermodynamics II

ME 500 Clean Energy Systems

ME 499 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering

ME 599 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering

Journal papers

[J-13] Dikici, B.; Saad, H.A.K.; Zhao, B. Evaluating Flow Characteristics of Ground and Cut Biomass for Industrial Applications. Powders 2024, 3 (3), 437-459. https://doi.org/10.3390/powders3030024

[J-12] Dikici B., Al-Sukaini B.Q.A., “Comparisons of Structured Surface Floors for Pool Boiling Enhancement at Low Heat Fluxes: Hands-On Learning Setup for Heat Transfer Classroom”, World Journal of Engineering and Technology, May 2023, vol: 11, No: 2, 303-318, [DOI:10.4236/wjet.2023.112022]

[J-11] Dikici B. and Al-Sukaini B.Q.A, “Evaluations of Surfactant Solutions for Nucleate Pool Boiling at Low Heat Fluxes”, Current Analysis on Chemistry, 1:2018, pp 20-26,

[J-10] Esteves R., Dikici B., Lehman M., Onukwuba N., Mazumder, Q., “Determination of Aqueous Surfactant Solution Surface Tensions with a Surface Tensiometer”, Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal, Vol:1, Article:4, January 2016, pp 27-35

[J-9] Esteves R., Onukwuba N., Dikici B., "Determination of Surfactant Solution Viscosities with a Rotational Viscometer", Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal, Vol:1, Article:2, January 2016, pp 12-19.

[J-8] Dikici B. Eno E., and Compere M., “Pool Boiling Enhancement with Environmentally friendly Surfactant additives”, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Vol:116, Number:3, pp 1387-1394, [DOI 10.1007/s10973-013-3634-x]

[J-7] Shaw, Pantoya, and Dikici B., “Detonation Models of Fast Combustion Waves in Nanoscale Al-MoO3  Bulk Powder Media”, Combustion Theory and Modelling,  iFirst 2012, 1-15, [DOI:10.1080/13647830.2012.721898]

[J-6] Dikici B., Pantoya M.L.,and Shaw B.D., “Analysis of the Influence of Nanometric Aluminum Particle Vaporisation on Flame Propagation in Bulk Powder Media”,  Combustion Theory and Modelling, iFirst 2011 ,pp 1-17,  [DOI: 10.1080/13647830.2011.636840] 

[J-5] Datta S., Dikici B., and Pantoya M.L., Ekwaro-Osire S., “Reaction Dynamics of Aluminum-Viton ®- Acetone Droplets”, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol.27, No.2, March-April 2011, pp396-401, [DOI:10.2514/1.50408]

[J-4] Levitas V.I., Dikici B., and Pantoya M.L., “Toward Design of the Pre-Stressed Nano- and Microscale Aluminum Particles Covered by Oxide Shell”, Combustion and Flame. Vol 158, (2011) 1413-1417, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2010.12.002]

[J-3] Dikici B., Pantoya M.L., Levitas V.I., “The Effect of Pre-heating on Flame Propagation in Nanocomposite Thermites”, Combustion and Flame, Vol.157, (2010),  Issue:8, pp1581-1588,  [DOI:10.1016/j.combustflame.2010.04.014]

[J-2] Dikici B., Dean S.W., Pantoya M.L., Levitas, V.I., and Jouet R.J., “Influence of Aluminum Passivation on the Reaction Mechanism: Flame Propagation Studies’’, Energy&Fuels 2009, Vol.23, pp.4231-4235, [DOI:10.1021/ef801116X].

[J-1] Levitas, V.I., Pantoya M.L., and Dikici B. “Melt Dispersion versus Diffusive Oxidation Mechanism for Aluminum Nanoparticles: Critical experiments and controlling parameters.”, Applied Physics Letters, Vol.92, 011921 (2008), [DOI:10.1063/1.2824392].


Conference papers

[C-26] Alnatsheh A. and Dikici B., “Formulation and Properties of Agar-based Biopolymer Blends for Packaging Applications”, Paper no: SSDM2025-152308, ASME 2025 Aerospace Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference, (SSDM), May 5-7, 2025, Houston, TX.

[C-25] Dikici B., Al-Sukaini B., Kaminis A., and Stirnweis D., “Enhancing Heat Transfer and Evaporation Control Through Bubble Dynamics and Surfactants”, Paper no: TFEC-2025-56238, ASTFE 10th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference (TFEC), March 9-12, 2025, Washington, DC.

[C-24] Dikici B., “Applying a Structured Problem-Solving Approach to Improve Dynamics, Fluid Dynamics, and Thermodynamics Education”, Paper no: TFEC-2025-56237, ASTFE 10th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference (TFEC), March 9-12, 2025, Washington, DC.

[C-23] Llanos P., Amberkar N., Duraisamy V.V., Nafziger J., Dikici B., Gangadharan S., Sanmiguel Pablo G., “Qualification and Validation Ground Tests for a Multiple Payload aboard Miura 1 rocket”, ASCEND 2022, 24-26 October 2022, Las Vegas, NV, Paper number: AIAA 2022-4211, https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2022-4211

[C-22] Dikici B., Chacko J. “Wind Turbine Performance: Hands-on Projects for Clean Energy Systems Course”, 7th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference (TFEC), May 15-18, 2022, Las Vegas, NV, Paper number: TFEC-2022-40883

[C-21] Saad H.A.K., Dikici B., Villarroel G., Divo E., “Characterization methods for Biomass Materials and Optimizing Heat Transfer by Using Genetic Algorithms”, 7th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference (TFEC), May 15-18, 2022, Las Vegas, NV, Paper number: TFEC-2022-40794

[C-20] Dikici B., “Undergraduate Research with Entrepreneurial Approach: Creating New Insulation Materials Using Biomass Fibers”, Proceedings of ASME Intl., Mech. Eng. Congress & Exposition Virtual Conference, November 1-5, 2021, Paper number: IMECE2021-70718

[C-19] Dikici B., Kaminis A., Stirnweis D., Stollenwerk L., and Jiang Q., “Viscosity and Natural Evaporation Studies: Aqueous Solutions of Surfactants and Hydrotopes”, ASME SHTC Virtual Conference, June 16-18, 2021, Paper number: SHTC 2021-63951

[C-18] Dikici B., Motagi S., Kantamani P., Ayyagari S., Al-Haik M., “Thermal Conductivity Study of Biomass Reinforced Polymer Composites”, Proceedings of SHTC Summer Heat Transfer Conference, July 12-15, 2020, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL, Paper number: SHTC 2020-13009

[C-17] Dikici B., Motagi S., Kantamani P., Ayyagari S., Villarroel G., Al-Haik M., “Processing of Agricultural Biomass for Producing Reinforced Polymer composites”, ASME Power Conference and Nuclear Forum, July 14-18, 2019, Salt Lake City, UT, Paper no: Power2019-1873

[C-16] Dikici B., Lehman J. M., “Study of Surface Tension and Natural Evaporation of Aqueous Surfactant Solutions”, ASME Power & Energy Conference, June 24-28, 2018, Lake Buena Vista, FL, Paper no: PowerEnergy2018-7281

[C-15] Dikici B., Narasimha P.R.B., and Kamdar S.D.., “Investigation of Thermal Conductivity Variation of Biomass Products with Moisture”, ASME International Conference on Power Engineering (ICOPE), June 26-30, 2017, Charlotte, NC., Paper no: PowerEnergy2017-3195.

[C-14] Dikici B., and Al-Sukaini B.Q.A., “Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Enhancement with Structured Surfaces”, ASME 2016 Power and Energy Conference and Exhibition, June 26-30, 2016, Charlotte, NC., Paper no: PowerEnergy2016-59364

[C-13] Dikici B. and Al-Sukaini B.Q.A, “Comparisons of Aqueous Surfactant Solutions for Nucleate Pool Boiling”, ASME 2016 Power and Energy Conference and Exhibition, June 26-30, 2016, Charlotte, NC., Paper no: PowerEnergy2016-59351

[C-12] Dikici B. and Jalandoni J., “Effect of Power Characteristics on Solar Panels: Hands-on Projects for Clean Energy Systems Class”, ASME 2016 10th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, June 26-30, 2016, Charlotte, NC., Paper no: PowerEnergy2016-59384

[C-11] Dikici B., Eno E., Compere M., “Nucleate Pool Boiling Enhancement Experiments for Heat Transfer Laboratory”, ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, November 15-21, 2013, San Diego, CA., Paper no: IMECE2013-63860

[C-10] Dikici B., Eno E., “Environmentally Friendly Surfactant Additives for Nucleate Pool Boiling Enhancement”, 41st Annual Conference of the North American Thermal Analysis Society 2013, August 4-7, 2013, Bowling Green, KY.

[C-9] Dikici B., Pantoya M., “Deflagration Analysis of Aluminum Droplet Combustion”, ASME 2012 Summer Heat Transfer Conference, July 8-12, 2012, Puerto Rico, USA, Paper No: HT2012-58553

[C-8] Toro X., Compere M., Van Wie B., Dikici B., “A Solar-powered Direct Steam Generation Boiler for an Educational Desktop Rankine Cycle”, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, IMECE 2011, November 11-17, 2011, Denver, CO., Paper No: IMECE2011/MECH-63699

[C-7] Shaw B.D., Dikici B., Pantoya M.L. “Models for Fast Combustion Waves in Nanocomposites Thermite Powders”, 23rd International Colloquium on the Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems (ICDERS), University of California, Irvine, July 24-29, 2011.Proceeding number: 43.

[C-6] Datta S., Pantoya M.L., Dikici B., Ekwaro S., “Reaction Dynamics and Probability Study of Aluminum-Viton-Acetone Droplets”, 46th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, July 25-28, 2010, Nashville TN., Paper No: AIAA 2010-6899

[C-5] Dikici B., Pantoya M.L., and Shaw B.D. “Analysis of the Influence of Nanometric Aluminum  Particle Vaporization on Flame Propagation in Bulk Powder Media”, 48th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition, January 4-7 2010, Orlando, FL.,  Paper No: AIAA-2010-1598

[C-4] Dikici B., Pantoya M.L., Jouet, R.J., “The Effects of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acid Coating of Al Particles to Flame Propagation”, 2009 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, November 13-19, 2009, Lake Buena Vista, FL., Paper no: IMECE 2009-10078

[C-3] Dikici B., Pantoya M.L., “The influence of Aluminum Passivation on the Reaction Mechanism: Flame Propagation Studies”, 37th Annual Conference of the North American Thermal Analysis Society 2009, September 19-23, 2009, Lubbock, Texas.

[C-2] Dikici B., Dean S.W, Pantoya M.L.,Levitas V., and Jouet R.J., “The influence of Aluminum Passivation on the Reaction Mechanism:Flame Propagation Studies”, 45th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit, 2-5 August 2009, Denver, CO., Paper number: AIAA 2009-5188

[C-1] Dikici B., Pantoya M.L.,“The Effect of Pre-heating on Flame Propagation in Nanocomposite Thermites”, 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including the New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition, 5-8 January 2009, Orlando, FL., Paper No: AIAA-2009-1626


Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Advisor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) ASME Student Section

Recipient of the ERAU Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Teacher Award, February 2024.

Recipient of the ASME Student Section Achievement Award, July 2024

Recipient of the ASME Student Section Achievement Award, April 2025