Estimating the wind pressure coefficient for single-span greenhouses using an large eddy simulation turbulence model

Abstract

The wind pressure coefficient (Cp) can be divided into a mean wind pressure coefficient (Cp, mean) and peak wind pressure coefficient (Cp, peak). In this study, the Cp, mean and Cp, peak values of single-span greenhouses were estimated using time-dependently computed large eddy simulation (LES) of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. First, the Cp, mean and Cp, peak values of single-span greenhouses were measured through a wind tunnel test considering various experimental conditions, such as the roof slope and roof curvature radius. The CFD-computed Cp, mean and Cp, peak values were compared with those measured in the wind tunnel for the validation of the CFD model. Especially, the computed Cp, mean values using the LES model were compared with the computed Cp, mean values using the RANS model performed by Kim, Lee, and Kwon (2017). Consequently, the LES model predicted the Cp, mean values more accurately than those predicted by the RANS. In addition, the Cp, peak values computed using the LES model showed only fine differences with those measured in some other regions; however, the overall tendency was similar between the measured and computed Cp, peak values. From these results, it was determined that the LES model can properly predict the Cp, peak values as well as the Cp, mean values.