Fast 3D computations of compressible flow discharge in buildings and complex networks

Abstract

This paper presents under-resolved simulations of compressible flows in complex structures like buildings. The mean pressure field is the primary focus as it is of high importance in many cases, such as the overpressure generated by the detonation of an explosive charge. In such high-risk situations, the mean pressure in the different building rooms has to be determined as quickly as possible, in order to help first responders evaluating the risk level of entering the building right after an explosion for instance. Conventional computational fluid dynamics methods are obviously able to deliver those requested pressure fields. However, they also require a long and tedious meshing process due to the presence of small openings in the computational domain (doors, windows or stairwells). In turn, these small openings need spatial and temporal resolution having significant consequences on computation time. But when dealing with pressing situations, a long pre-processing is not acceptable. The present paper proposes a two-step solution method. First, a very rough mesh is constructed which does not consider small openings. The mesh is constructed in an easy and particular way such that simplifications can be made when computing the fluid flux through these openings. Second, a specific Riemann solver dealing with geometric discontinuities is developed to estimate the fluid flow. The Riemann solver takes advantage of the simplifications provided by the meshing method, and accounts for both unchoked and choked flows through openings. The overall method then consists of both a specific meshing process that requires very little pre-processing, which considerably reduces the time needed to produce a complete simulation, and a Riemann solver. The proposed method is named MUZO in reference to its “MUlti-ZOne” flow solver. The MUZO solver is validated against resolved computations and provides accurate simulated mean pressure fields within a realistic building in a few seconds.