Flow around buildings
Generally there are considerable interactions between large and high-rise buildings, shopping centres, chimneys and stadiums with the surrounding airflow, which influences the static and dynamic strength of the building itself and its environment. During the planning and design phases of buildings it is, therefore, essential to determine the local wind conditions and to analyse the effects they have on the buildings and their environment.
The object of an analysis is, beside the estimation of wind loads, also the simulation of the interaction between outside air and the ventilation system. The influence of boundary conditions on ventilation systems and the calculation of natural and forced vibrations should be considered during the planning phase of buildings.
Method - With the generation of a numerical model of the building and its environment, the use of a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis allows to simulate beside the air flow also special effects such as exhaust propagation and forced vibrations.
Results - In contrast to discrete pressure and force values as obtained from measurements, the results of a numerical analysis offer the distribution of these parameters along the entire building. Vortex shedding, forced vibrations, exhaust and particle spreading can be represented three-dimensionally and time-dependent. Thus, the numerical flow simulation is an interesting and cost-saving alternative to experimental methods, especially in the planning phase of a building.
