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CFD simulation of airflow over a regular array of cubes. Part I: Three-dimensional simulation of the flow and validation with wind-tunnel measurements

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Abstract

Air flow inside an array of cubes is simulated. Cubes (edge length 0.15 m) are arranged in a regular array, separated by 0.15 m in the streamwise and spanwise directions. Numerical simulations are performed based on Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations (RANS), solved in a computational fluid dynamics model (CFD), with standard k–ε turbulent closure (two prognostic equations are solved for the turbulent kinetic energy k and its dissipation ε, respectively). Simulations are validated against wind-tunnel data using a technique based on hit-rate calculations, and calculated statistical parameters. The results show that the horizontal velocity is very well modelled, and despite some discrepancies, the model that fulfils the hit-rate test criteria gives useful results that are used to investigate three-dimensional (3-D) flow structures. The 3-D analysis of the flow shows interesting patterns: the centre of the canyon vortex is at 3/4 of the canyon height, and stronger downward than upward motions are present within the canyon. Such behaviour is explained by the presence of a compensation flow through the side of the canyon, which enters the canyon from the upper part and exits from the lower part. This complex 3-D structure affects the tracer dispersion, and is responsible for pollutant transport and diffusion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIEMAT (Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology), Edificio 03, P1.09, Avenida Complutense 22, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Jose Luis Santiago, Alberto Martilli & Fernando Martín

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  1. Jose Luis Santiago
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  2. Alberto Martilli
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  3. Fernando Martín
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Correspondence to Jose Luis Santiago.

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Santiago, J.L., Martilli, A. & Martín, F. CFD simulation of airflow over a regular array of cubes. Part I: Three-dimensional simulation of the flow and validation with wind-tunnel measurements. Boundary-Layer Meteorol 122, 609–634 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-006-9123-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-006-9123-z

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