CFD Modelling of Helicopter Downwash and Assessment of its impact on Pedestrian Comfort

This study used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study to investigate the impact of helicopter downwash on pedestrian comfort. The initial stage of the study involves the development of a helicopter downwash model that was compared to experimental values which showed some degree of coherence with areas situated downstream of the helicopter rotor. The initial stage was used to find suitable modelling parameters and an adequate resolution of computational mesh to produce a reliable helicopter downwash model. The final stage of the study is to integrate a helicopter in a built environment and assess the impact of downwash on pedestrian comfort. The concluding stage of the study showed that helicopter downwash effects can impose discomforting conditions in the immediate vicinity of the helicopter along with some minute propagating effects further downstream. Although its magnitude is smaller compared to effects of prevailing wind a local mitigation must be separately planned to deal with the effects of helicopter downwash.