Abstract
Essential prerequisites for a thorough model evaluation are the availability of problem-specific, quality-controlled reference data and the use of model-specific comparison methods. The work presented here is motivated by the striking lack of proportion between the increasing use of large-eddy simulation (LES) as a standard technique in micro-meteorology and wind engineering and the level of scrutiny that is commonly applied to assess the quality of results obtained. We propose and apply an in-depth, multi-level validation concept that is specifically targeted at the time-dependency of mechanically induced shear-layer turbulence. Near-surface isothermal turbulent flow in a densely built-up city serves as the test scenario for the approach. High-resolution LES data are evaluated based on a comprehensive database of boundary-layer wind-tunnel measurements. From an exploratory data analysis of mean flow and turbulence statistics, a high level of agreement between simulation and experiment is apparent. Inspecting frequency distributions of the underlying instantaneous data proves to be necessary for a more rigorous assessment of the overall prediction quality. From velocity histograms local accuracy limitations due to a comparatively coarse building representation as well as particular strengths of the model to capture complex urban flow features with sufficient accuracy are readily determined. However, the analysis shows that further crucial information about the physical validity of the LES needs to be obtained through the comparison of eddy statistics, which is focused on in part II. Compared with methods that rely on single figures of merit, the multi-level validation strategy presented here supports conclusions about the simulation quality and the model’s fitness for its intended range of application through a deeper understanding of the unsteady structure of the flow.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Guide for the verification and validation of computational fluid dynamics simulations (AIAA G-077-1998(2002)). American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. doi:10.2514/4.472855.001
Adrian RJ, Meneveau C, Moser RD, Riley J (2000) Final report on ‘turbulence measurements for LES’ workshop. Technical report. Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana (IL), USA
Adrian RJ, Yao CS (1987) Power spectra of fluid velocities measured by laser Doppler velocimetry. Exp Fluids 5:17–28
ASME (2006) Guide for verification and validation in computational solid mechanics. ASME V&V 10-2006, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, NY, USA
Book DL (2012) The conception, gestation, birth, and infancy of FCT. In: Kuzmin D, Löhner R, Turek S (eds) Flux-corrected transport: principles, algorithms, and applications, scientific computing, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–21
Boris J, Patnaik G, Obenschain K (2011) The how and why of nomografs for CT-Analyst. Report NRL/MR/6440-11-9326, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
Boris JP (1989) New directions in computational fluid dynamics. Annu Rev Fluid Mech 21:345–385
Boris JP (1990) On large eddy simulation using subgrid turbulence models. In: Lumley JL (ed) Whither turbulence? Turbulence at the crossroads. Lecture Notes in Physics, vol 357. Springer, Berlin, pp 344–353
Boris JP (2002) The threat of chemical and biological terrorism: preparing a response. Comput Sci Eng 4:22–32
Boris JP (2005) Dust in the wind: challenges for urban aerodynamics. AIAA Paper 2005-5393
Boris JP (2007) More for LES: a brief historical perspective of MILES. In: Grinstein FF, Margolin LG, Rider WJ (eds) Implicit large eddy simulation: computing turbulent fluid dynamics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 9–38
Boris JP, Book DL (1973) Flux-corrected transport I: SHASTA—a fluid transport algorithm that works. J Comput Phys 11:38–69
Boris JP, Book DL (1976) Solution of the continuity equation by the method of flux-corrected transport. In: Alder B, Fernbach S, Rotenberg M, Killeen J (eds) Methods in computational physics, vol 16. Academic Press, Waltham, pp 85–129
Bradshaw P (1972) The understanding and prediction of turbulent flow. Aeronaut J 76:403–418
Britter R, Schatzmann M (eds) (2007a) Background and justification document to support the model evaluation guidance and protocol. COST Action 732. University of Hamburg, Germany
Britter R, Schatzmann M (eds) (2007b) Model evaluation guidance and protocol document. COST Action 732. University of Hamburg, Germany
Britter RE, Hanna SR (2003) Flow and dispersion in urban areas. Annu Rev Fluid Mech 35:469–496
Chang JC, Hanna SR (2004) Air quality model performance evaluation. Meteorol Atmos Phys 87:167–196
Cheng WC, Liu CH (2011) Large-eddy simulation of turbulent transports in urban street canyons in different thermal stabilities. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 99:434–442
Counihan J (1975) Adiabatic atmospheric boundary layers: a review and analysis of data from the period 1880–1972. Atmos Environ 9:871–905
De Waele S, Broersen PMT (2000) Error measures for resampled irregular data. IEEE Trans Instrum Meas 49:216–222
Edwards RV, Jensen AS (1983) Particle-sampling statistics in laser anemometers: sample-and-hold systems and saturable systems. J Fluid Mech 133:397–411
ESDU (1985) Characteristics of atmospheric turbulence near the ground. Part II: single point data for strong winds (neutral atmosphere). ESDU 85020, Engineering Sciences Data Unit, London, UK
Grimmond CSB, Oke TR (1999) Aerodynamic properties of urban areas derived from analysis of surface form. J Appl Meteorol 38:1262–1292
Grinstein FF (2010) Verification and validation of CFD based turbulent flow experiments. In: Encyclopedia of aerospace engineering. Wiley, Hoboken, pp 515–523
Hanna S, Chang J (2012) Acceptance criteria for urban dispersion model evaluation. Meteorol Atmos Phys 116(3):133–146
Hanna SR, Brown MJ, Camelli FE, Chan ST, Coirier WJ, Kim S, Hansen OR, Huber AH, Reynolds RM (2006) Detailed simulations of atmospheric flow and dispersion in downtown Manhattan: an application of five computational fluid dynamics models. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 87(12):1713–1726
Hanna SR, Hansen OR, Dharmavaram S (2004) FLACS CFD air quality model performance evaluation with Kit Fox, MUST, Prairie Grass, and EMU observations. Atmos Environ 38:4675–4687
Hertwig D (2013) On aspects of large-eddy simulation validation for near-surface atmospheric flows. Ph.D. thesis, Universität Hamburg. http://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de/volltexte/2013/6289/pdf/Dissertation.pdf
Hertwig D, Efthimiou GC, Bartzis JG, Leitl B (2012) CFD-RANS model validation of turbulent flow in a semi-idealized urban canopy. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 111:61–72
Hertwig D, Leitl B, Schatzmann M (2011) Organized turbulent structures—link between experimental data and LES. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 99:296–307
Huang H, Ooka R, Kato S (2005) Urban thermal environment measurements and numerical simulation for an actual complex urban area covering a large district heating and cooling system in summer. Atmos Environ 39(34):6362–6375
Kaimal JC, Wyngaard JC, Izumi Y, Coté OR (1972) Spectral characteristics of surface-layer turbulence. Q J R Meteorol Soc 98:563–589
Kanda M (2007) Progress in urban meteorology: a review. J Meteorol Soc Jpn Ser II(85B):363–383
Kempf AM (2008) LES validation from experiments. Flow Turbul Combust 80:351–373
Konow H (2015) Tall wind profiles in heterogeneous terrain. Ph.D. thesis, Universität Hamburg. http://ediss.sub.uni-hamburg.de/volltexte/2015/7202/pdf/Dissertation.pdf
Leitl B (2000) Validation data for microscale dispersion modelling. EUROTRAC Newsl 22:28–32
Li XX, Britter RE, Koh TY, Norford LK, Liu CH, Entekhabi D, Leung DYC (2010) Large-eddy simulation of flow and pollutant transport in urban street canyons with ground heating. Bound Lay Meteorol 137:187–204
Li XX, Britter RE, Norford LK, Koh TY, Entekhabi D (2012) Flow and pollutant transport in urban street canyons of different aspect ratios with ground heating: large-eddy simulation. Bound Lay Meteorol 142:289–304
Li XX, Liu CH, Leung DYC, Lam KM (2006) Recent progress in CFD modelling of wind field and pollutant transport in street canyons. Atmos Environ 40:5640–5658
Liu YS, Cui GX, Wang ZS, Zhang ZS (2011) Large eddy simulation of wind field and pollutant dispersion in downtown Macao. Atmos Environ 45:2849–2859
Mochida A, Lun I (2008) Prediction of wind environment and thermal comfort at pedestrian level in urban area. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 96:1498–1527
Moonen P, Defraeye T, Dorer V, Blocken B, Carmeliet J (2012) Urban physics: effect of the micro-climate on comfort, health and energy demand. Front Archit Res 1:197–228
Moonen P, Gromke C, Dorer V (2013) Performance assessment of large eddy simulation (LES) for modeling dispersion in an urban street canyon with tree planting. Atmos Environ 75:66–76
Murakami S, Ooka R, Mochida A, Yoshida S, Kim S (1999) CFD analysis of wind climate from human scale to urban scale. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 81:57–81
Oberkampf WL, Barone MF (2006) Measures of agreement between computation and experiment: validation metrics. J Comput Phys 217:5–36
Oberkampf WL, Trucano TG (2002) Verification and validation in computational fluid dynamics. Prog Aerosp Sci 38:209–272
Oke TR (2007) Siting and exposure of meteorological instruments at urban sites. In: Borrego C, Norman AL (eds) Air pollution modeling and its application XVII, chap 66. Springer, Berlin, pp 615–631
Park SB, Baik JJ, Raasch S, Letzel MO (2012) A large-eddy simulation study of thermal effects on turbulent flow and dispersion in and above a street canyon. J Appl Meteorol Climatol 51:829–841
Patnaik G, Boris JP, Grinstein FF, Iselin JP, Hertwig D (2012) Large scale urban simulations with FCT. In: Kuzmin D, Löhner R, Turek S (eds) Flux-corrected transport: principles, algorithms, and applications, scientific computing, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin, pp 91–117
Patnaik G, Grinstein FF, Boris JP, Young TR, Parmhed O (2007) Large-scale urban simulations. In: Grinstein FF, Margolin LG, Rider WJ (eds) Implicit large eddy simulation: computing turbulent fluid dynamics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Plate EJ (1999) Methods of investigating urban wind fields—physical models. Atmos Environ 33:3981–3989
Ramond A, Millan P (2000) Measurements and treatment of LDA signals, comparison with hot-wire signals. Exp Fluids 28:58–63
Salim SM, Buccolieri R, Chan A, Di Sabatino S (2011) Numerical simulation of atmospheric pollutant dispersion in an urban street canyon: comparison between RANS and LES. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 99:103–113
Schatzmann M, Leitl B (2010) Validation of urban flow and dispersion CFD models. In: Proceedings of the 5th international symposium on computational wind engineering. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Schatzmann M, Olesen H, Franke J (eds) (2010) COST 732 model evaluation case studies: approaches and results. COST Action 732. University of Hamburg, Germany. ISBN 3-00-018312-4
Schlünzen KH (1997) On the validation of high-resolution atmospheric mesoscale models. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 67(68):479–492
Simiu E, Scanlan RH (1986) Wind effects on structures, 2nd edn. Wiley, Hoboken
Standen NM (1972) A spire array for generating thick turbulent shear layers for natural wind simulation in wind tunnels. Report LTR-LA-94, National Aeronautical Establishment, Canada
Stathopoulos T (2006) Pedestrian level winds and outdoor human comfort. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 94:769–780
Tamura T (2008) Towards practical use of LES in wind engineering. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 96:1451–1471
Tominaga Y, Mochida A, Yoshie R, Kataoka H, Nozu T, Yoshikawa M, Shirasawa T (2008) AIJ guidelines for practical applications of CFD to pedestrian wind environment around buildings. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 96:1749–1761
Tominaga Y, Stathopoulos T (2011) CFD modeling of pollution dispersion in a street canyon: comparison between LES and RANS. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 99:340–348
Tominaga Y, Stathopoulos T (2012) CFD modeling of pollution dispersion in building array: evaluation of turbulent scalar flux modeling in RANS model using LES results. J Wind Eng Ind Aerodyn 104–106:484–491
Tominaga Y, Stathopoulos T (2013) CFD simulation of near-field pollutant dispersion in the urban environment: a review of current modeling techniques. Atmos Environ 79:716–730
VDI (2000) Environmental meteorology—physical modelling of flow and dispersion processes in the atmospheric boundary layer—application of wind tunnels. Guideline VDI-3783-12, Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (The Association of German Engineers), Beuth Verlag, Berlin
VDI (2005) Environmental meteorology—prognostic microscale wind field models—evaluation for flow around buildings and obstacles. Guideline VDI-3783-9, Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (The Association of German Engineers), Beuth Verlag, Berlin
Wettermast Hamburg, Universität Hamburg. http://www.wettermast-hamburg.zmaw.de
Wilks DS (2005) Statistical methods in the atmospheric sciences, 2nd edn. Academic Press, Waltham
Winter AR, Graham LJW, Bremhorst K (1991) Effects of time scales on velocity bias in LDA measurements using sample and hold processing. Exp Fluids 11:147–152
Wyngaard JC, Peltier LJ (1996) Experimental micrometeorology in an era of turbulence simulation. Bound Lay Meteorol 78:71–86
Xie ZT, Castro IP (2006) LES and RANS for turbulent flow over arrays of wall-mounted obstacles. Flow Turbul Combust 76:291–312
Xie ZT, Castro IP (2009) Large-eddy simulation for flow and dispersion in urban streets. Atmos Environ 43:2174–2185
Xie ZT, Hayden P, Wood C (2013) Large-eddy simulation of approaching-flow stratification on dispersion over arrays of buildings. Atmos Environ 71:64–74
Acknowledgements
The numerical simulations with the LES code FAST3D-CT were carried out at the Laboratories for Computational Physics and Fluid Dynamics of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC, USA. The authors wish to express their thanks to Jay Boris, Mi-Young Obenschain and other collaborators there. Further thanks is given to colleagues at the Environmental Wind Tunnel Laboratory at the University of Hamburg. Financial funding by the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance as well as by the Ministry of the Interior of the City of Hamburg within the “Hamburg Pilot Project” is gratefully acknowledged (BBK research contract no. BBK III.1-413-10-364). Parts of the wind-tunnel model construction were financially supported by the KlimaCampus at the University of Hamburg.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hertwig, D., Patnaik, G. & Leitl, B. LES validation of urban flow, part I: flow statistics and frequency distributions. Environ Fluid Mech 17, 521–550 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-016-9507-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-016-9507-7