About

Adam Fincham is an Adjunct Research Associate Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering. He earned his doctoral degree in Aerospace Engineering from USC in 1994, with a focus on Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. His educational background also includes a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering obtained in 1991 and a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering completed in 1989, both from USC. His research encompasses turbulence and vortex structures in stratified and rotating flows, as well as the development of advanced algorithms for Digital Particle Imaging Velocimetry and 3D Scanning Imaging Velocimetry. Fincham's work also involves particle dynamics in turbulent flows with applications to oceanic plankton ecosystems, sonic boom interactions with the ocean surface, and surfing wave dynamics. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, including the All University International Pre-Doctoral Merit Award Fellowship in 1992, and has been recognized for his leadership and academic achievements during his time at USC.

Research topics

• Physics
• Geology
• Computer Science
• Mechanics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Meteorology
• Classical mechanics
• Geomorphology
• Oceanography
• Optics
• Geodesy

Selected publications

• FULL-SCALE VALIDATION OF THE RANS K-EPSILON TURBULENCE CLOSURE MODEL FOR CAPTURING WHITEWATER REFORM IN THE SURF ZONE

  Coastal Engineering Proceedings · 2025-05-29

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  In the pursuit of recreating world-class surfing conditions, this study undertakes a comprehensive examination and accurate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of surf-zone processes. The investigation centers on the impact of reef geometry on the ability to generate secondary reform surfing waves. Utilizing the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method, computational models are rigorously validated against field data obtained from the wave pool facility in Abu Dhabi, utilizing Kelly Slater Wave Co. technology. The findings underscore the significance of reef shape, with implications for reform wave surfing experiences in both coastal regions and man-made wave environments.

  PublisherDOI

• Modelling wind-induced changes to overturning wave shape

  Journal of Fluid Mechanics · 2024 · 2 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Mechanics
  • Geology
  • Physics

  Depth-limited overturning wave shape affects water turbulence and sediment suspension. Experiments have shown that wind affects shoaling and overturning wave shape, with uncertain mechanism. Here, we study wind effects (given by the wind Reynolds number) on solitary wave shoaling and overturning with the two-phase direct numerical simulations model Basilisk run in two dimensions on steep bathymetry for fixed wave Reynolds number and Bond number. For all wind, the propagating solitary wave sheds a two-dimensional turbulent air wake and has nearly uniform speed with minimal wave energy changes over the rapidly varying bathymetry. Wave-face slope is influenced by wind, and shoaling wave shape changes are consistent with previous studies. As overturning jet impacts, wind-dependent differences in overturn shape are quantified. The non-dimensional breakpoint location and overturn area have similar wind dependence as previous experience, whereas the overturn aspect ratio has opposite wind dependence. During shoaling, the surface viscous stresses are negligible relative to pressure. Surface tension effects are also small but grow rapidly near overturning. In a wave frame of reference, surface pressure is low in the lee and contributes 2–5 % to the velocity potential rate of change in the surface dynamic boundary condition, which, integrated over time, changes the wave shape. Reasons why the overturn aspect ratio is different than in experiment and why a stronger simulated wind is required are explored. The dramatic wind effects on overturning jet area, and thus to the available overturn potential energy, make concrete the implications of wind-induced changes to wave shape.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cross-shore wind-induced changes to field-scale overturning wave shape

  Journal of Fluid Mechanics · 2023 · 7 citations

  • Geology
  • Physics
  • Geomorphology

  The shape of depth-limited breaking-wave overturns is important for turbulence injection, bubble entrainment and sediment suspension. Overturning wave shape depends on a nonlinearity parameter $H/h$ , where $H$ is the wave height, and $h$ is the water depth. Cross-shore wind direction (offshore/onshore) and magnitude affect laboratory shoaling wave shape and breakpoint location $X_{{bp}}$ , but wind effects on overturning wave shape are largely unstudied. We perform field-scale experiments at the Surf Ranch wave basin with fixed bathymetry and $\approx 2.25$ m shoaling solitons with small height variations propagating at $C=6.7\ \mathrm {m}\ \mathrm {s}^{-1}$ . Observed non-dimensional cross-wave wind $U_w$ was onshore and offshore, varying realistically ( $-1.2 < U_{w}/C < 0.7$ ). Georectified images, a wave staff, and lidar are used to estimate $X_{{bp}}$ , $H/h$ , overturn area $A$ and aspect ratio for 22 waves. The non-dimensionalized $X_{{bp}}$ was inversely related to $U_{w}/C$ . The non-dimensional overturn area and aspect ratio also were inversely related to $U_{w}/C$ , with smaller and narrower overturns for increasing onshore wind. No overturning shape dependence on the weakly varying $H/h$ was seen. The overturning shape variation was as large as prior laboratory experiments with strong $H/h$ variations without wind. An idealized potential air flow simulation on steep shoaling soliton shape has strong surface pressure variations, potentially inducing overturning shape changes. Through wave-overturning impacts on turbulence and sediment suspension, coastal wind variations could be relevant for near-shore morphology.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• THE EFFECT OF REEF GEOMETRY ON BREAKING WAVE SHAPE. COMPUTATIONAL AND FIELD DATA COMPARATIVE STUDY

  Coastal Engineering Proceedings · 2023-10-02

  articleOpen access1st author

  Detailed investigation, accurate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling and understanding of surf-zone processes are essential for recreating world-class surfing wave conditions. Parametric studies of different reef shapes have been carried out to analyze the effects on the barrel vortex ratio for a solitary-type wave. The computational models are based on the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method and are compared against field data from the WSL Surf Ranch facility in Lemoore, CA. Results from these studies highlight the importance of reef shape and have implications to the quality of surfing experiences in both coastal regions and artificial wave environments.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The wavedrifter: a low-cost IMU-based Lagrangian drifter to observe steepening and overturning of surface gravity waves and the transition to turbulence

  Coastal Engineering Journal · 2023 · 13 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Physics

  Waves and wave breaking are important to many deep and shallow water processes. We describe the wavedrifter, an in situ water-following inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based drifter that measures wave steepening and overturning kinematics, and the subsequent transition to turbulence. The wavedrifter has 5 cm diameter, 77 g mass, and 0.84 saltwater specific gravity. GPS provides time synchronization. MATLAB's Attitude, Heading, Reference System (AHRS) library provides wavedrifter orientation. Laboratory experiments quantify the wavedrifter vertical oscillation mode, water following properties, and ability to reproduce wave spectra for small, f=1.5 Hz waves. The wavedrifter observed wave overturning and the transition to turbulence at the Surf Ranch wave basin. Synchronized video observations provide context. The upper-back of the overturn had large (≈4g) accelerations and 14g acceleration magnitude occurs with the impact of the overturning jet. Trajectories reveal the Lagrangian structure of the overturn and subsurface vortex. Although it has limitations, the wavedrifter is a powerful in situ tool to probe wave processes.

  PublisherDOI

• Comparative behavior of piloted turbulent premixed jet flames of C 1 C 8 hydrocarbons

  Combustion and Flame · 2017-03-17 · 29 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• The Structure Of Decaying Turbulence In A Stably Stratified Fluid, Using A Novel Dpiv Technique

  PhDT · 2017-01-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Experimental and numerical studies of fuel and hydrodynamic effects on piloted turbulent premixed jet flames

  Proceedings of the Combustion Institute · 2016-10-10 · 16 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Soot formation in flames of model biodiesel fuels

  Combustion and Flame · 2012-01-31 · 93 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Simulations hydrauliques au service de la compréhension physique

  HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) · 2009-01-01

  preprintSenior author

  This presentation addresses some of the advantages and possibilities of working in water with particle image velocimetry (PIV) methods for investigations of the physics of environmental flows. Some examples of hydraulic simulations of environmental flows are given, first two rough-walled boundary-layer studies, an atmospheric-type neutral boundary layer and a very rough free-surface channel flow. Here, 2D PIV measurements are used to give a statistical description of the turbulent structure. A newly developed scanning-PIV technique for hydraulic applications is then introduced which is capable of extending typical 2D-PIV resolutions into a full 3D measurement resolving all three velocity components and its spatial derivatives in a volume. This technique, designed to be versatile and adaptable to different flow configurations, is applied to an evolving three-dimensional laminar dipole in a shallow water configuration as well as to the turbulent zone resulting from the breaking of an internal gravity wave forced by uniform density-stratified flow over an obstacle. The 3D-3C results are used to elucidate the complex vortex dynamics of the flows. / Cette présentation aborde les avantages et les possibilités d'utilisation de simulations hydrauliques avec des techniques de vélocimétrie par imagerie de particules (PIV) pour étudier la physique d'écoulements environnementaux. Des exemples pour la PIV 2D sont donnés, en particulier pour des couches limites sur fonds rugueux, d'abord sur le développement d'une couche limite atmosphérique neutre, puis sur les couches limites en canal en présence de macrorugosités. Les champs de vitesses mesurés sont utilisés pour des analyses statistiques de la turbulence. Le potentiel de simulations hydrauliques est ensuite utilisé pour développer une technique capable de mesurer les trois composantes de la vitesse et ses dérivés spatiales dans un volume, avec la même résolution spatiale obtenue en deux dimensions par PIV 2D. Cette technique, conçue pour être facilement adaptable à différentes configurations d'écoulements, est appliquée à deux cas, d'abord à l'évolution tri-dimensionnelle d'un dipôle laminaire initialement bi-dimensionnel, puis à la turbulence générée par le déferlement d'une onde interne forcée par un obstacle. Les résultats 3D-3C sont utilisés pour élucider la dynamique tourbillonnaire complexe de ces écoulements.

  Publisher

Frequent coauthors

• Olivier Praud

  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

  34 shared

• Dominique P. Renouard

  Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels

  33 shared

• Joël Sommeria

  Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels

  20 shared

• Henry Didelle

  Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels

  16 shared

• Jean-Michel Baey

  16 shared

• Sylvain Sadoux

  16 shared

• G. Delerce

  9 shared

• T. Maxworthy

  7 shared

Awards & honors

• All University International Pre-Doctoral Merit Award Fellow…
• USC School of Engineering Engineering Honors Program (1988)
• OISS International Academic Achievement Award (1988)
• Laufer engineering experimentation project award (1988)
• Phi Kappa Phi (1988)