Technical Notes
May 9, 2017

Large Eddy Simulations of Model-Scale Turbulent Atmospheric Boundary Layer Flows

Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143, Issue 9

Abstract

This paper presents large eddy simulations (LES) of model-scaled neutrally stratified atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) flows for structural engineering applications and examines their statistical properties. A one-k-equation eddy model is used for the subgrid-scale (SGS) motions, and a wall shear model is applied on the ground. The mean streamwise velocity profile is approximately logarithmic, yet near the ground a mismatch persists because of the limited accuracy of the SGS model. The second moments of the turbulence represent well the underlying physics. The spectra of the velocity components at a point are consistent with commonly accepted expressions. The spatial coherences decay exponentially as functions of reduced frequencies. The results suggest that, except for the mean velocity near the ground, the ABL turbulence statistics can be well represented by large eddy simulations with simple SGS and wall models.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. E. Simiu served as project leader. Mr. Paul Dickey’s excellent technical support is gratefully acknowledged.

References

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Published In

Go to Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 143Issue 9September 2017

History

Received: May 13, 2016
Accepted: Feb 7, 2017
Published online: May 9, 2017
Published in print: Sep 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Oct 9, 2017

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Authors

Affiliations

NIST Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2658-7837
DongHun Yeo, M.ASCE [email protected]
IPA Research Engineer, Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]

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