Abstract
A strategy of the combination of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Building Information Model (BIM) technology was proposed to evaluate the wind environment around a building with complex façades for green building assessment. The Science and Education Building located at the Emerald Lake Campus of the Hefei University of Technology in China was selected as a case study. Two modeling methods, refined modeling by BIM software (BIM model) and traditional simplified modeling by computer aided design software (simplified model, referred to as SM model), were considered. The differences between the CFD results from the two geometry models were carefully examined. Three typical outdoor activity areas were selected to study the wind velocity difference, including the central channel, roof garden, and overhead corridor. The pressure difference between the CFD simulation results of the BIM model and the SM model at the exterior windows of the high-rise building was compared and analyzed. The results show that when a narrow channel is formed between two buildings, the wind velocity of the BIM model at the channel will be significantly lower than that of the SM model. The large “wall-type” components of the building roof will enhance the vortex area. The average pressure difference is greater than 0.5 Pa at the external window of building façades, accounting for up to 39.6%. The maximum pressure difference is as high as 10.13 Pa. The wind velocity difference is as high as 2.65 m/s at the central channel, 4 m/s at the roof garden, and 3.69 m/s at the overhead corridor. These differences will significantly affect the evaluation of the outdoor wind environment in green building assessment.
Highlights
The external wind field of the building has an important impact on the indoor and outdoor environment of the building.1,2 For the building’s external environment, the formation of a strong wind zone will cause pedestrians to struggle or cause damage to people by rolling objects
Whether will the SM model affect the green building assessment? And if so, how significantly the SM model will affect? In order to answer these questions, the difference between the external wind environment of the refined building model built by Building Information Model (BIM) and the traditional simplified building model is carefully examined, and how it affects the green building assessment is discussed in the present work
When the incoming wind passes through the central channel, it will produce a “Venturi effect.”37,38 In the north wind direction, the wind velocity will be reduced because there are many appurtenances on the façade of the BIM model between two high-rise buildings, so there is a big wind velocity difference between the BIM model and the SM model
Summary
The external wind field of the building has an important impact on the indoor and outdoor environment of the building. For the building’s external environment, the formation of a strong wind zone will cause pedestrians to struggle or cause damage to people by rolling objects. In order to answer these questions, the difference between the external wind environment of the refined building model built by BIM and the traditional simplified building model is carefully examined, and how it affects the green building assessment is discussed in the present work. It will provide guidance for researchers and engineers to use BIM and CFD technologies to design green buildings, on creating an excellent external wind environment around the buildings.
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