Numerical investigation of the flow field around low rise buildings due to a downburst event using large eddy simulation

Haines, M. and Taylor, I. (2018) Numerical investigation of the flow field around low rise buildings due to a downburst event using large eddy simulation. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 172, pp. 12-30. (doi: 10.1016/j.jweia.2017.10.028)

Abstract

The transient lift and drag coefficients around a low rise cube of dimension 60mm and a portal building of dimensions 240x130x53mm with eaves height of 42mm, which arise from the numerical simulation of an impinging jet or downburst are investigated. The numerical results were validated against a experimental results from a laboratory impinging jet simulator operating at the same scale. Having found the CFD simulation to match well with the laboratory scale the CFD was then used to visualise and interpret the flow field around the buildings. Common transient atmospheric boundary layer flow features, such as conical vortices, vortices on the rear face of a building, flow separation and vortex shedding were observed and could be used to explain the lift and drag results obtained. In particular, motion of the primary vortex from the downburst and its effect on the transient pressures on the building were identified, with strong pressure gradients observed for a number of configurations. Aspects of the flow phenomena were identified, which along with the strong pressure changes on the building surfaces, indicate areas of further research due to their potential impact on building and cladding design.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors would like to express their gratitude to the EPSRC for their support for this research through grant EP/J008370/1.
• Keywords: Turbulent inlet, impinging jets, LES, downbursts, non-stationary analysis.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Taylor, Dr Ian
• Authors: Haines, M., and Taylor, I.
• Subjects: T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity
• Research Group: Aerospace Sciences
• Journal Name: Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics
• Journal Abbr.: J Wind Eng Ind AEerod
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0167-6105
• ISSN (Online): 1872-8197
• Published Online: 15 November 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 172: 12-30
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy
• Data DOI: 10.5525/gla.researchdata.490