Dynamic computer-aided approximation of airflow around and inside an agricultural structure

Abstract

The present work studied, numerically, the airflow inside and outside an agricultural structure with openings. The governing Navier–Stokes and continuity equations were solved with finite element method. The numerical experiment was designed so that it simulates the airflow inside and outside of an agricultural structure model placed in a wind tunnel, like in the experiment used in this article for validation purposes. The length of the structure model occupied the entire width of the wind tunnel. The flow was incompressible, unsteady, and nominated to be two-dimensional. The Reynolds number studied in this work was Re = 2800 with respect to the structure height. The numerical results such as instantaneous streamlines, velocity values, and turbulent parameters are presented for the internal and external environment of the structure. The predicted time-mean averaged stream lines and turbulent kinetic energy values are compared with available experimental data in the literature. From the presentation and the statistical analysis of instantaneous velocities, intense fluctuations were observed in the flow configuration over time.