Influence of cell geometry and mesh resolution on large eddy simulation predictions of flow around a single building

Abstract

A number of research studies have employed a wide variety of test conditions to numerically assess flow field around buildings. In such studies, the employed mesh system and its resolution played a crucial role in determining the ultimate degree of solution accuracy. The objective of this study is to better establish a quantitative assessment of the influence of cell geometry and mesh resolution on the numerical predictions of large eddy simulation (LES) of the flow field around a single building. In order to achieve this objective, a number of mesh styles including conventional hexahedral-based mesh, tetrahedral-based mesh, and prism-based mesh have been considered. In addition, hybrid meshes of tetrahedron and hexahedron cells are also considered. In each mesh style, four grid resolutions were investigated: coarse, medium, fine, and very fine. Accuracy of the simulation has been assessed by applying comparisons to the experimental data available in literature. Moreover, quantitative grid convergence was calculated based on the grid convergence index, which accounts for the degree of grid refinement. Future studies are needed to analytically evaluate the influence of cell geometry on the solution accuracy and to more precisely evaluate other grid system options including various forms of hybrid configuration meshes.