Numerical simulation of street canyon flows with simple building geometries

Abstract

The velocity and pressure fields of the flow over street canyons formed by groups of buildings are studied numerically. The flow fields are computed by solving the time-dependent incompressible Navier-Stokes equations using the fractional step method. The numerical model is validated by simulating flows over a square cylinder at different Reynolds numbers. The Strouhal numbers, which reflect the dynamic flow characteristics, agree well with published experimental data over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The wind field model is then applied to two street canyon configurations. First, flows inside street canyons formed by four identical buildings are simulated. The incidental flow is raised by the most upstream building and becomes parallel to the ground at the rooftop level of the fourth building downstream, resulting in a clockwise rotating vortex in downstream street canyons with an inflow from left to right. Second, flows inside street canyons formed by two identical buildings are simulated. In this case, a primary eddy that is counterclockwise rotating may be formed due to flow separation at the front corner of the upstream building. A clockwise rotating primary eddy is formed in the wake area of the separate zone above the street canyon, which drives the counterclockwise rotating eddy in the street canyon. The result indicates that rooftop level flows cannot be assumed parallel to the ground as some modelers have done in their studies. Studies also show that flow regimes in the street canyon will remain unchanged while the inflow velocity is greatly increased from 0.1 to 6.0 m/s. In addition, the wind velocities in the street canyon have a linear response to the inflow velocity. Journal of Environmental Engineering © ASCE.