Pressure Distribution on a Roof in Presence of the Moving Surface Boundary-layer Control

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Modi, V.J. | Yokomizo, T.

Affiliations: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., V6T lZ4, Canada | Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kanto Gakuin University, Mutsuura, Kanazawa, Yokohama, 236-8501, Japan

Abstract: The paper studies effect of momentum injection, accomplished through circular cylindrical rotating elements, on the pressure distribution at the roof of a model house. Extensive wind tunnel tests, complemented by flow visualization, suggest that such Moving Surface Boundary-layer Control (MSBC) effectively delays separation and significantly increases the pressure, both on leeward and windward surfaces. This would assist in protection of the roof against wind storms and snow accumulation.

Keywords: wind-induced roof pressure, boundary-layer control

Journal: Journal of Visualization, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 255-260, 1998