T. Nilavarasan

About

Dr. Nilavarasan is an aerodynamicist, with expertise in the areas of launch vehicle design, experimental fluid dynamics and data-driven techniques. His work primarily focusses on developing novel flow control strategies that can enhance the performance of various aerospace and wind energy systems. His current research spans across all flow regimes (subsonic to hypersonic velocities) and often synergistically employs both experimental and computational methods, to study the intricate spatiotemporal dynamics in aero/hydrodynamic flows.

Academic Qualifications

Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune (2022).

M.E. in Aerospace Technology, Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University, Chennai (2015).

B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, University College of Engineering Villupuram, Anna University, Chennai (2013).

Research Statement

Dr. Nilavarasan’s research is aimed towards the advancement of sustainable aviation and wind energy technology, by providing flow control-based solutions to aerodynamic problems. Current interests include (but are not limited to):

Shock Wave – Boundary Layer Interactions
Airfoil/Wing/Blade aerodynamics
Bluff-body wakes
Cavity-induced flow oscillations
Blast-wave dynamics and shock-focusing

Latest Publications

1 T. Nilavarasan*, A. N. Rao and A. Kushari, Effect of nozzle curvature on under-expanded elliptic jets, International Conference on Sustainable Aerospace Technologies and Innovations, 07-08 February, VIT Bhopal University, Madhya Pradesh, India, 2025

2 S. S. Gorphade, T. Mandal*, T. Nilavarasan and A. N. Rao, Impact of plate distance on the flow characteristics of an impinging rectangular jet, International Conference on Sustainable Aerospace Technologies and Innovations, 07-08 February, VIT Bhopal University, Madhya Pradesh, India, 2025

3 A. N. Rao and T. Nilavarasan*, Analysis of vortex-shedding behind a bluff body using spectral proper orthogonal decomposition, International Conference on Sustainable Aerospace Technologies and Innovations, 07-08 February, VIT Bhopal University, Madhya Pradesh, India., 2025

4 T. Nilavarasan and A. N. Rao*, Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition of vortex-shedding dynamics in bluff-body wakes, 37(6), 063610, Physics of Fluids, 2025

5 A. N. Rao*, T. Nilavarasan and A. Kushari, Flow and acoustic characteristics of a serpentine nozzle with aft-deck,’ International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences, Published online, International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 2025

6 T. Nilavarasan* and G. N. Joshi, Ramped vane control of compression corner-induced flow separation, 25(3), 836-845, International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 2024

7 T. Nilavarasan*, Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition of the wake behind a circular cylinder, 10th International and 50th National Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power, IIT Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India., 2023

8 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi, A. Misra, C. Manisankar and S. B. Verma, Spatial and temporal alterations due to vortex generators in a flare induced shock-boundary layer interaction, 99, 98-115, European Journal of Mechanics – B/Fluids, 2023

9 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi, A. Misra, C. Manisankar and S. B. Verma, Performance evaluation of different micro vortex generators in controlling a flare-induced shock–boundary layer interaction, 237(8), 1890-1915, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2023

10 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi, A. Misra, C. Manisankar and S. B. Verma, Mitigation of shock-induced flow separation over an axisymmetric flared body using ramped vanes, 26(6), 1279-1297, Journal of Visualization, 2023

View More

Research Areas

Teachings

UG Courses

1 Mechanics 2 Fluid Mechanics

Publications

4 T. Nilavarasan*, Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition of the wake behind a circular cylinder, 10th International and 50th National Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power, IIT Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India., 2023

5 K. Muniraja*, T. Nilavarasan, S. Chandel and G. N. Joshi, Aerodynamic analysis of a hypersonic space shuttle with a conical aerospike, International Conference on Recent advances in Mechanical Engineering Research and Development, NIT Silchar, Assam, India., 2022

6 M. Agarwal*, J. B. Verma, T. Nilavarasan and G. N. Joshi, Numerical investigation of flow control in a low pressure turbine cascade using Gurney Flaps, International Conference on Thermo-Fluids and Systems Design, BIT Mesra, Ranchi, India., 2022

7 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi, A. Misra, C. Manisankar and S. B. Verma, Effect of ‘ramped vane’ vortex generators on a flare-induced shock – boundary layer interaction, 24th International Shock Interaction Symposium, IIT Madras, Tamil Nadu, India., 2022

8 T. Nilavarasan* and G. N. Joshi, Attenuation of compression ramp induced separation using ramped vanes, 9th International and 48th National Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power, BITS Pilani, Rajasthan, India., 2021

9 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi, A. Misra, C. Manisankar and S. B. Verma, Experimental investigation on attenuation of shock induced flow separation over an axisymmetric flared body using ramped vanes, 6th National Conference on Wind Tunnel Testing, IIT Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2020

10 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi, S. Chandel, Attenuation of Flow Separation in a NACA 8410 Turbine Cascade using Gurney Flaps, International Conference on Sustainable Development, Pune, Maharashtra, India, 2019

11 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi, A. Misra, C. Manisankar and S. B. Verma, Control of Flare Induced Shock – Boundary Layer Interaction using Micro Vortex Generators, 2721-2738, 32nd International Symposium on Shock Waves, NUS Singapore, 2019

12 Parveen Kumar, T. Nilavarasan* and G. N. Joshi, Measurements in a manually operated hypersonic shock tunnel, 2nd International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering, SRM University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 2018

13 T. Nilavarasan* and G. N. Joshi, Control of Shock - Boundary Layer Interaction due to a Compression Ramp using Ramped Vane type Micro Vortex Generators, Symposium on Applied Aerodynamics and Design of Aerospace Vehicles (SAROD), Bengaluru, India., 2018

14 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi and A. Misra, Effect of Mach number and Reynolds number on the Shock - Boundary Layer Interaction Due To A Compression Ramp, International Conference on Future Trends and Challenges in Mechanical Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra, India, 2017

15 T. Nilavarasan*, G. N. Joshi and A. Misra, Computational Study of Shock - Boundary Layer Interaction Due To Supersonic Flow Over A Compression Ramp, International Conference on Future Trends and Challenges in Mechanical Engineering, Pune, Maharashtra, India, 2017

16 T. Nilavarasan* and J. Dheenadhayalan, Computational study of Savonius wind turbines with classical and novel blade configurations, National Conference on Evolution in Green Energy and Vehicle Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India., 2015