The effect of topography on building structures in urban subdivision utilizing computational fluid dynamics for critical wind pressure determination

Abstract

The present study determines the effect of topography on building structures in urban subdivision utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for critical wind pressure determination. The topography of a subdivision was established using Autodesk Revit with reference to Google Earth. The mathematical model was formulated with the discretization of the Navier-Stokes equation in three dimensional form into a simplified and corrected momentum and pressure equations. The maximum positive and negative wind pressures were obtained from the maximum 180 degree south wind attack angle and critical wind pressures were obtained from the maximum negative wind pressures. Topography in terms of elevation showed that the recorded wind pressure of elevated houses are higher than those situated on the non-elevated areas. The mathematical model as input to CFD Flow Design was based on the Reynolds Averaged navier-Stokes and Large Eddy Simulation for the turbulence model and low Mach number assumption to decompose the pressure for incompressible flows. As the velocity profile and elevation of the topography increase, the simulated pressure also increases. The simulated pressure results are higher than the reference theoretical pressure in which higher values indicate a more conservative structural design. The higher the simulation resolution, the more detailed and accurate are the results.