Joe Shepherd is the C. L. "Kelly" Johnson Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA. He teaches and conducts research on fluid mechanics, chemistry, thermodynamics, structural mechanics of explosions and also related applications such as propulsion.

Shepherd has been a consultant and investigator on projects for the Department of Energy, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NASA, various national laboratories, NTSB, aerospace and chemical industries. He started his career in explosions with his doctoral studies at Caltech, receiving his degree in 1980 on "The Dynamics of Vapor Explosions". Before returning to Caltech in 1993, he was on the staff of Sandia National Laboratories from 1980 to 1986 and was a faculty member of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 1986 to 1993.

A brief CV (PDF) with a list of a few recent papers.

A complete list of Publications. Most publications since 1995 can be downloaded.

Research Group The Explosion Dynamics Laboratory specializes in studies of combustion, fuel properties, and fluid dynamics relevant to explosion initiation and propagation. Applications include: novel propulsion systems (pulse detonation engines); evaluation of explosion hazards in industrial processes, transportation systems, and nuclear facilities; and investigation of accidental explosions. Experimental studies are being carried out on ignition and propagation of flames, transition from flames to detonation, propagation of detonations and shock waves, response of structures to explosions, application of detailed chemical kinetics to combustion modeling, and the simulation of high explosive detonation.