Transition from steady to chaotic flow of natural convection on a section-triangular roof

Flow phenomena on a roof are investigated by employing direct numerical simulation. A sequence of pitchfork bifurcations of steady plumes on the roof occurs for small Rayleigh numbers, which is analyzed using a topological method. Furthermore, a Hopf bifurcation followed by periodic doubling, quasiperiod bifurcations, and a transition to chaos appear as the Rayleigh number is increased.