Vinicius Bonfochi Vinhaes

Contact

vbvinhae@mtu.edu
906-487-1213
Advanced Power Systems Research Center

Research Scientist, Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APSRC)
Adjunct Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

PhD, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University
MS, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University
BS, Mechanical Engineering, FEI University

Biography

Dr. Bonfochi Vinhaes (Dr. V.) is a Research Scientist at Michigan Technological University’s Advanced Power Systems Research Center (APSRC) and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from MTU. His work focuses on experimental and analytical research of advanced combustion and propulsion systems, alternative and low-carbon fuels, and energy and mobility technologies. He leads and supports federally and industry-funded research and workforce development programs as a Principal Investigator and Co-PI, with expertise in engine instrumentation, controls, experimental diagnostics, simulation, and data analysis. Dr. Vinhaes also contributes to professional development and academic training in advanced mobility and energy systems, while mentoring undergraduate and graduate students through applied, hands-on research.

Links of Interest

Google Scholar

Specialties

Combustion control and modeling of internal combustion engines
Development of low carbon fuels, including natural gas, hydrogen, dual fuel engines
Experimental testing and validation of advanced SI and CI systems

Recent Publications

Tuma, N., Bonfochi Vinhaes, V., Eggart, B., Naber, J., Barros, S., “Experimental Investigation of Water Injection in a Stoichiometric Dual-Fuel Ng-Diesel Engine at Medium and High Loads”. Proceedings of the ASME2025 ICE Forward Conference, ICEF2025.

White, T., Bonfochi Vinhaes, V., Eggart, B., Naber, J., Turcios, M., Singh, A., Munshi, S., “Operation and Performance of a Mono fueled Compression Ignition, Direct Injection, Natural Gas Heavy Duty Engine”. Proceedings of the ASME2024 ICE Forward Conference, ICEF2024.

Reddy CR, Bonfochi Vinhaes V, Naber JD, Robinett RD, Shahbakhti M., “Exergy Based Model Predictive Control of an Integrated Dual Fuel Engine and a Waste Heat Recovery System”. 2023, Control Engineering Practice 135 (2023): 105510.

Bonfochi Vinhaes V, Yang X, McTaggart-Cowan G, Munshi S, Shahbakhti M, Naber JD. “Development of a medium-duty stoichiometric diesel micro-pilot natural gas engine”. International Journal of Engine Research. April 2022

Bonfochi Vinhaes, V., Yang, X., McTaggart-Cowan, G., Eggart, B., Munshi, S., Naber, J.D., Shahbakhti, M. “Multi-Variable Sensitivity Analysis and Ranking of Control Factors Impact in a Stoichiometric Micro-Pilot Natural Gas Engine at Medium Loads". SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-0463, 2022

Bonfochi Vinhaes, V.; McTaggart-Cowan, G.; Munshi, S.; Shahbakhti, M.; Naber, J.D. “Experimental Studies of Low-Load Limit in a Stoichiometric Micro-Pilot Diesel Natural Gas Engine.”, Energies, 2022, 15, 728

Reddy CR, Bonfochi Vinhaes V, Naber JD, Robinett RD, Shahbakhti M., “Model Predictive Control of a Dual Fuel Engine Integrated With Waste Heat Recovery Used for Electric Power in Buildings.” Optim Control Appl Meth. 2022;1-20.

Reddy, C.R., Vinhaes, V.B., Robinett, R.D., Naber, J.D. and Shahbakhti, M., “Model Predictive Control of a Waste Heat Recovery System Integrated with a Dual Fuel Natural Gas-Diesel Engine”. In 2021 American Control Conference (ACC) (pp. 1842-1847). IEEE.

Yang, Z., Miganakallu, N., Miller, T., Vinhaes, V.B., Worm, J., Naber, J. and Roth, D.,” Investigation of High Load Operation of Spark-Ignited Over-Expanded Atkinson Cycle Engine.”, Applied Energy, 262, p.114519.

Yang, X., Bonfochi Vinhaes, V., Turcios, M., McTaggart-Cowan, G., Huang, J., Naber, J., Shahbakhti, M., Schmidt, H. and Atkinson, W., ”Process for Study of Micro-pilot Diesel-NG Dual Fuel Combustion in a Constant Volume Combustion Vessel Utilizing the Premixed Pre-burn Procedure.” SAE2019-01-1160

Bonfochi Vinhaes, V., Barberato, C. “Numerical Analysis and Modeling of a Three Stroke IC Engine”, 23rd ABCM International Congress of Mechanical Engineering, 2015.

Teaching Experience

ME5201: Fundamentals of SI Engines
ME5202: Fundamentals of Diesel Engines
ME5203: SI Engine Controls
ME5204: Diesel Engine Control Systems
ME4296: Experimental Studies in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
ME5255: Advanced Powertrain Instrumentation and Experimentation