Modelling of wind load on single and staggered dual buildings

Abstract

A method of modelling numerically the wind loads on single and staggered dual buildings using Computational Fluid Dynamics is presented in this paper. Simulation of a turbulent boundary layer over test models was carried out at the Supercomputing and Visualization Unit, the National University of Singapore, using FLUENT 6.1.18. Turbulence was introduced at the inlet through a parallel auxiliary simulation and the computation of the flow advanced in time using Large Eddy Simulation with a ReNormalization Group subgrid-scale viscosity model. Wind velocities at different locations and wind pressures on the building faces were recorded. Subsequently the flow characteristics were examined and the force and moment spectra deduced. The results were compared with data from earlier wind tunnel experiments carried out at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. It can be concluded from the study that numerical wind modelling on tall structures is a promising alternative to conventional tests in atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnels. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2007.