Influence of Building Shape on Wind-Driven Rain Exposure in Tall Buildings
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 27, Issue 3
Abstract
Wind-driven rain (WDR) is a primary cause of material degradation in tall buildings that affects the durability and long-term performance. This study investigates the influence of building shape on WDR exposure in tall buildings using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Results indicate that building shape influences local flow conditions, which, in turn, influence the trajectory of rain droplets and their impingement on building surfaces. Two specific flow features were found to dictate WDR exposure: the wind-blocking effect and the separation of shear layers at leading edges of the building. Streamlined geometries with small wind-blocking regions experienced higher WDR exposure on windward surfaces. High WDR concentrations also occurred on geometric features protruding into the wind and at locations where shear layers impinge on the building surface. These findings are based on steady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations that do not consider unsteady flow features such as buffeting and vortex shedding. Nonetheless, the study provides valuable insight into the influences of building shape on WDR exposure, which could lead to better weatherproofing of these buildings.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing (Grant ID IC150100023) of the Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne. This research was undertaken using the Spartan HPC facility provided by the University of Melbourne.
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Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 27 • Issue 3 • September 2021
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 15, 2021
Accepted: Jun 7, 2021
Published online: Jul 13, 2021
Published in print: Sep 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Dec 13, 2021
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