Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Interaction of Wake Vortices with a Gable Roof

Roofs of buildings in the vicinity of airports can be damaged by trailing vortices of aircraft during take-off and landing phase. Interaction of trailing vortices with a generic gable roof is examined experimentally in a water towing tank, as well as numerically using unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes simulations. The investigation focuses on understanding how the vortex core can come into contact with the roof surface causing negative pressure loads that are most likely accountable for observed roof damages. Numerical results are presented showing secondary vortex loops wrapping around the primary vortex causing break-up and linking of the vortex tube to the roof surface.