Improved methods for structural wind engineering

This thesis describes research examining the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in structural wind engineering. It looks in particular at steady and unsteady RANS simulations and Detached Eddy Simulation and their use in the calculation of structural loads on static bluff building structures....

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Main Author: Knapp, Graham Anthony
Format: Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2007
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11886/
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author Knapp, Graham Anthony
author_facet Knapp, Graham Anthony
author_sort Knapp, Graham Anthony
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description This thesis describes research examining the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in structural wind engineering. It looks in particular at steady and unsteady RANS simulations and Detached Eddy Simulation and their use in the calculation of structural loads on static bluff building structures. Previous research across structural wind engineering and CFD is reviewed and critically examined with respect to structural engineering. CFD simulations are performed and compared with published flow data for simple cubes. Loading studies are performed for a complex building and the results compared with wind tunnel studies used in the structural design of the building. Some important local pressure and design forces are found to be highly dependent upon simulation parameters including the spatial discretisation used. In particular, local forces and pressures in the separation and reattachment regions cannot be consistently predicted. Standard industrial CFD methods for improving simulation accuracy including mesh refinement and increasing discretisation accuracy do not necessarily improve prediction of structural loads and explanations are given for this. Results for overall structural loads are found to be sufficiently settled and repeatable for comparison with experimental values, while some local forces and pressures cannot be predicted consistently. Recommendations are made for the appropriate use of CFD in structural engineering and for the future development of CFD techniques. In particular, improved representation of multiple turbulent scales in the free stream and separation regions is required.
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spelling nottingham-118862025-02-28T11:16:11Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11886/ Improved methods for structural wind engineering Knapp, Graham Anthony This thesis describes research examining the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in structural wind engineering. It looks in particular at steady and unsteady RANS simulations and Detached Eddy Simulation and their use in the calculation of structural loads on static bluff building structures. Previous research across structural wind engineering and CFD is reviewed and critically examined with respect to structural engineering. CFD simulations are performed and compared with published flow data for simple cubes. Loading studies are performed for a complex building and the results compared with wind tunnel studies used in the structural design of the building. Some important local pressure and design forces are found to be highly dependent upon simulation parameters including the spatial discretisation used. In particular, local forces and pressures in the separation and reattachment regions cannot be consistently predicted. Standard industrial CFD methods for improving simulation accuracy including mesh refinement and increasing discretisation accuracy do not necessarily improve prediction of structural loads and explanations are given for this. Results for overall structural loads are found to be sufficiently settled and repeatable for comparison with experimental values, while some local forces and pressures cannot be predicted consistently. Recommendations are made for the appropriate use of CFD in structural engineering and for the future development of CFD techniques. In particular, improved representation of multiple turbulent scales in the free stream and separation regions is required. 2007 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en arr https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11886/1/486685.pdf Knapp, Graham Anthony (2007) Improved methods for structural wind engineering. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. Fluid dynamics computer simulation turbulence wind-pressure
spellingShingle Fluid dynamics
computer simulation
turbulence
wind-pressure
Knapp, Graham Anthony
Improved methods for structural wind engineering
title Improved methods for structural wind engineering
title_full Improved methods for structural wind engineering
title_fullStr Improved methods for structural wind engineering
title_full_unstemmed Improved methods for structural wind engineering
title_short Improved methods for structural wind engineering
title_sort improved methods for structural wind engineering
topic Fluid dynamics
computer simulation
turbulence
wind-pressure
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11886/