PIV measurement of roof corner vortices

Conical vortices on roof corners of a prismatic low-rise building have been investigated by using the PIV(Particle Image Velocimetry) technique. The Reynolds number based on the free stream velocity and model height was $5.3{\times}10^3$. Mean and instantaneous vector fields for velocity, vorticity, and turbulent kinetic energy were measured at two vertical planes and for two different flow angles of $30^{\circ}$ and $45^{\circ}$. The measurements provided a clear view of the complex flow structures on roof corners such as a pair of counter rotating conical vortices, secondary vortices, and tertiary vortices. They also enabled accurate and easy measurement of the size of vortices. Additionally, we could easily locate the centers of the vortices from the ensemble averaged velocity fields. It was observed that the flow angle of a $30^{\circ}$ produces a higher level of vorticity and turbulent kinetic energy in one of the pair of vortices than does the $45^{\circ}$ flow angle.