Abstract

Turbulent boundary layers (TBLs) are thin regions of fluid near a surface with highly viscous and shear-driven forces that contain chaotic and random vortical structures of varying size and energy content. Parameters such as pressure gradients and geometric irregularities on the surface, referred to as roughness, can increase fluctuating pressures and velocities within the boundary layer and cause unwanted noise, vibration, and increased drag. This talk will focus on the experimental investigations of velocity field behavior of high Reynolds number TBLs over rough and smooth walls in complex, yet functionally driven, pressure gradient fields.

Speaker

Dr. Vidya Vishwanathan

Dr. Vidya Vishwanathan received her bachelor's and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech. After completing her Ph.D., she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the United States Naval Academy, continuing her research on rough-wall turbulent boundary layers. She currently works as an aerothermal engineer at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Her research interests include turbulent boundary layers, experimental diagnostics, and hypersonic flows.