Study on optimum design method for pleasant outdoor thermal environment using genetic algorithms (GA) and coupled simulation of convection, radiation and conduction

Abstract

Extensive research has recently been conducted into improving outdoor thermal environments in summer. In this paper, (1) an optimum design method is developed with genetic algorithms (GAs) and coupled simulation of convection, radiation, and conduction for comfortable outdoor thermal environments, and (2) in order to examine the validity of the proposed optimum design system, an apartment block space in an urban area is set up as an analysis target and the optimum arrangement of buildings and trees in two cases are analyzed for pleasant outdoor thermal environment design. For the optimum arrangement of trees, two different cases within the target area are examined to clarify the effect of different target areas (all open space or walkways) on optimization. For the optimum arrangement of buildings, in order to clarify the effect of the different positions of apartment blocks and building coverage ratio, three cases with different positions or building shapes in the target domain are examined. As a result, the optimum arrangements of the buildings are derived using GA and simulations for the three cases, and the validity of the optimum design method is confirmed.