UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Modelling of street canyon geometries in CFD - A comparison with experimental results

Wen, H; Karra, S; Malki-Epshtein, L; (2013) Modelling of street canyon geometries in CFD - A comparison with experimental results. In: Wurt, E, (ed.) Building Simulation 2013: 13th International Conference of the International Building Performance Simulation Association. (pp. pp. 2382-2389). International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) Green open access

[thumbnail of Wen_Modelling_street_canyon_geometries.pdf]
Preview
Text
Wen_Modelling_street_canyon_geometries.pdf

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Street canyon design lias a large effect on the microclimate conditions at street level. Yet modeling the outdoor urban environment is a significant challenge and validation with experimental flows is crucial to these efforts. A CFD model was constructed to simulate flow passing several street canyon geometries and the results were compared with those obtained from a laboratory study. The turbulence model chosen was the Re-Normalization Group (RNG) k-s model which we had found to be a suitable steady state turbulence model for this application. Different inlet boundary conditions were applied and made a comparison between a uniform velocity profile, a velocity profile characterized by a mathematic function and a velocity profile by importing measured velocities directly. The velocity profile characterized by a mathematic function was found to be slightly superior to the other two choices. The velocity fields and turbulence information of the CFD model were compared qualitatively and quantitatively with experimental results. The laboratory7 experiments were carried out in a water channel and measurements of velocity field within and above models of street canyons were obtamed through Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Velocity contours were found to be quite consistent inside the street canyon except the near wall regions. Turbulent level predicted by CFD was less reliable than velocity, but it was still qualitatively consistent in most regions inside street canyon. However, the turbulent level is predicted inaccurately at roof level.

Type: Proceedings paper
Title: Modelling of street canyon geometries in CFD - A comparison with experimental results
Event: BS2013, 13th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Association, 25 - 28 August 2013, Chambéry, France
ISBN-13: 9782746662940
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Publisher version: http://www.ibpsa.org/proceedings/BS2013/p_2468.pdf
Language: English
Additional information: This is the published version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Civil, Environ and Geomatic Eng
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1408687
Downloads since deposit
67Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item