Influence of the turbulence model formulation on the simulation of flows around buildings

[EN] The population tends to concentrate on big cities, leading to a problem of land for housing. High-rise buildings can host many people in little ground, but these structures present different challenges, an important factor for their design is the wind. The aerodynamic loads can cause strong vib...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Carcelén Sardina, Arantxa
Format: master thesis
Publication Date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Repository:RiuNet. Repositorio Institucional de la Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:riunet.upv.es:10251/170799
Online Access:https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/170799
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:CFD
Simulación de viento
Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS)
Turbulencia
Enfoque integral
Edificio de gran altura
Wind simulation
Turbulence
Comprehensive approach
High-rise building
MAQUINAS Y MOTORES TERMICOS
Máster Universitario en Ingeniería Aeronáutica-Màster Universitari en Enginyeria Aeronàutica
Description
Summary:[EN] The population tends to concentrate on big cities, leading to a problem of land for housing. High-rise buildings can host many people in little ground, but these structures present different challenges, an important factor for their design is the wind. The aerodynamic loads can cause strong vibrations on the upper side, and the air may flow to the lower part and cause disturbance to pedestrians. In this thesis different analysis of the flow field around buildings are conducted. A simple structure is studied to test different models used in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations since experimental data is available. The numerical solution is obtained with the steady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method and the unsteady approach (URANS), since this case is intrinsically steady both results are analogous. About the turbulence, the standard k-epsilon model is chosen in a version improved by the comprehensive approach which addresses two inconsistencies generated by the RANS approximations. For the good implementation of this model, the Building Influence Area (BIA) concept is integrated to apply the Non-Linear Eddy Viscosity (NLEV) model within it. The improvements of this model will be shown by comparing its results with traditional turbulence models as the k- and the SST k-ω. Once the comprehensive approach is validated, it is implemented in another simple geometry and later in a high-rise building in order to analyse the flow behaviour. The separation bubble at the top, the wake, the base vortex and the corner streams are visualized. The comprehensive approach provides accurate results, but the simulation time is also higher. Moreover, the steady simulations require a lower computational cost, however, an unsteady simulation is advisable for the skyscraper to study dynamic phenomenons that could induce harmful vibrations and fatigue.