NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF STREET-LEVEL WINDS WITHIN A PASSAGE USING A TWO-LAYER k- ε MODEL

Abstract

The flow field in the passage between two buildings is simulated using a two-layer k-ε model and the results are compared with the wind tunnel data. This study concentrates on the variations of the mean wind speeds within the passage under different wind directions (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°) and the influence of the height difference between the two buildings is also investigated. Good agreement is obtained when the two buildings is of the same height. Although the agreement is less satisfactory when there is a height difference between the two buildings, the general trend of the wind velocity variations within the passage is similar to that of the experiment. The salient flow features can still be depicted by this economical approach and it is considered adequate at the stages of preliminary design.