Short answer
When designing urban layouts, consider the alignment of buildings to control wind flow. Distorted passages can lead to increased wind speeds and turbulence in certain areas, while streamlined passages might create predictable vortex patterns.
- Field
- Human Factors
- Source
- Atmosphere (2021)
- Method
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) - Large Eddy Simulation (LES)
- Evidence
- Strong effect
The spatial arrangement of buildings, specifically the alignment of wind passages between them, directly influences airflow patterns, leading to variations in wind speed, turbulence, and drag forces on structures. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2021 study published in Atmosphere. Using Computational fluid dynamics (cfd) - large eddy simulation (les), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing urban layouts, consider the alignment of buildings to control wind flow. Distorted passages can lead to increased wind speeds and turbulence in certain areas, while streamlined passages might create predictable vortex patterns.
Building arrangement significantly impacts pedestrian wind comfort and structural loads
The spatial arrangement of buildings, specifically the alignment of wind passages between them, directly influences airflow patterns, leading to variations in wind speed, turbulence, and drag forces on structures.
Atmosphere · 2021
Key Findings
- 01Distorted wind passages (DWP) result in span-wise airflow in the wake region, unlike streamlined wind passages (SWP) which are dominated by recirculating vortices.
- 02DWP increases mean stream-wise and span-wise velocities in the wake, decreases velocity within the passage, and enhances dispersive and peak Reynolds stresses.
- 03DWP strengthens individual building drag forces and their fluctuations compared to SWP.
- 04Air penetration depth is greater in DWP than in SWP.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing urban layouts, consider the alignment of buildings to control wind flow. Distorted passages can lead to increased wind speeds and turbulence in certain areas, while streamlined passages might create predictable vortex patterns.
How to apply
When designing a new urban development or evaluating an existing one, analyze the potential wind flow patterns based on building arrangements. Use CFD tools to simulate different configurations and assess their impact on pedestrian wind comfort and structural integrity.
Project actions
- 01When researching wind effects, clearly define the types of wind passages you are comparing.
- 02Use simulation software to visualize and quantify the differences in airflow and forces.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilizes advanced simulation techniques (LES) for detailed airflow analysis.
- +Investigates two distinct and relevant urban wind passage configurations.
Limitations
The simulation might not account for the full range of weather conditions or the impact of surrounding urban structures not included in the model.
Reliability & validity
The use of LES provides a robust method for capturing turbulent flow phenomena, enhancing the validity of the findings. However, the specific parameters and simplifications in the simulation model could affect generalizability.
Think critically
How might the findings on distorted wind passages be applied to design strategies for mitigating wind-induced discomfort in pedestrian areas, or conversely, for enhancing natural ventilation in specific urban contexts?
Design Principles
"Urban form significantly influences microclimatic conditions and structural loads."
Understanding how building configurations affect wind flow is crucial for designing urban environments that are both comfortable for pedestrians and structurally sound. This research provides data-driven insights into optimizing urban layouts to mitigate adverse wind conditions.
What This Means for Your Design
How buildings are placed next to each other changes the wind. If the gaps between buildings are not straight, the wind can become more chaotic and push harder on the buildings.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the impact of urban geometry on wind flow and its implications for design.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The study by Wang et al. (2021) demonstrates that the configuration of wind passages between buildings significantly influences airflow dynamics and resulting drag forces. Their large-eddy simulations revealed that distorted wind passages lead to increased span-wise airflow and turbulence in wake regions, enhancing drag on buildings compared to streamlined passages. This highlights the critical role of urban form in shaping wind environments and structural loads.
Source
Atmosphere
Large-Eddy Simulations on the Effects of Two Wind Passage Types between Buildings on the Airflow and Drag Characteristics
journal · 2021
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about building arrangement significantly impacts pedestrian wind comfort and structural loads?
- When designing urban layouts, consider the alignment of buildings to control wind flow. Distorted passages can lead to increased wind speeds and turbulence in certain areas, while streamlined passages might create predictable vortex patterns. Evidence: Atmosphere (2021).
- Why does "Building arrangement significantly impacts pedestrian wind comfort and structural loads" matter for design?
- Understanding how building configurations affect wind flow is crucial for designing urban environments that are both comfortable for pedestrians and structurally sound. This research provides data-driven insights into optimizing urban layouts to mitigate adverse wind conditions.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing urban layouts, consider the alignment of buildings to control wind flow. Distorted passages can lead to increased wind speeds and turbulence in certain areas, while streamlined passages might create predictable vortex patterns.
- What were the main findings?
- Distorted wind passages (DWP) result in span-wise airflow in the wake region, unlike streamlined wind passages (SWP) which are dominated by recirculating vortices.. DWP increases mean stream-wise and span-wise velocities in the wake, decreases velocity within the passage, and enhances dispersive and peak Reynolds stresses.. DWP strengthens individual building drag forces and their fluctuations compared to SWP.. Air penetration depth is greater in DWP than in SWP.
- What research method was used?
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) - Large Eddy Simulation (LES).
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2021 journal from Atmosphere.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing a new urban development or evaluating an existing one, analyze the potential wind flow patterns based on building arrangements. Use CFD tools to simulate different configurations and assess their impact on pedestrian wind comfort and structural integrity.
- What are the limitations?
- Simulations are based on specific building geometries and may not capture all real-world urban complexities, such as varied building heights, ground surface conditions, and atmospheric boundary layer effects.