During the first half of Summer 2025, I conducted experimental research on drag reduction in airfoils by testing riblet structures in a wind tunnel. This project was carried out under the mentorship of Dr. Earl Dowell, a professor at Duke University, and Julia Komorowski, a Master's student. 

In fluid dynamics, surface textures known as “riblets” — inspired by the skin of fast-swimming marine animals like the mako shark — have drawn significant attention for their potential to reduce skin-friction drag. Riblets are microscopic grooves aligned with the flow direction that interact with turbulent boundary layers, effectively reducing cross-stream momentum transfer and delaying flow separation. This reduction in drag can help improve aerodynamic and fuel efficiency which can result in large financial savings for aerospace companies.

My responsibilities in this project included setting up and calibrating wind tunnel experiments using a force balance, collecting aerodynamic data for lift and drag values, and analyzing the influence of riblet geometry on flow characteristics. I created a Python script to calculate averages, standard deviations, and run t-tests on the different samples to prove a statistical difference existed between the results.  Additionally, I developed a VI in LabVIEW to collect lift and drag data values. Furthermore, I performed flow simulation studies in Solidworks to confirm the results. 

A more formal report with an outline of the experimental process, detailed findings and potential applications can be found here: Riblets for Drag Reduction in Spherical Bodies.