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Virginia Tech

Overview of the Skin Friction measurements on the NASA BeVERLI Hill using Oil Film Interferometry

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Viscous drag reduction plays a vital role in increasing the performance of vehicles. However, there are only so many measurement techniques that can quickly and accurately measure this when compared to pressure drag measurement techniques. The current study makes use of one of the direct and robust measurement techniques that exist, called the Oil Film Interferometry (OFI) to estimate skin friction on the NASA/Virginia Tech BeVERLI (Benchmark Validation Experiment for RANS and LES Investigations) hill. This project aims to develop a detailed database of non-equilibrium, separated turbulent boundary layer flows obtained through wind tunnel experiments for CFD validation. Skin friction measurements are obtained at specific critical locations on the hill and in its close proximity. The challenges involved in obtaining skin friction data from these locations are discussed in detail. Detailed discussions on the experimental setup and data processing methodology are presented. Qualitative and quantitative results from each measurement location are discussed along with uncertainties to explain certain key flow physics. Additionally, skin friction coefficients from selected overlapping measurement locations from another experimental flow measurement technique called Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) are compared with OFI, and a cross-instrument study is performed. Finally, results from well-refined RANS CFD simulations are assessed with the experimental results, and critical improvement areas are identified.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Aerospace Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2023

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sundarraj, Vignesh
Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Lowe, K. Todd
  • Roy, Christopher John
Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Devenport, William J.

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:36278
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/113410

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sundarraj, Vignesh. Overview of the Skin Friction measurements on the NASA BeVERLI Hill using Oil Film Interferometry. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/113410