A novel methodology for architectural wind environment study by integrating CFD simulation, multiple parametric tools and evaluation criteria

Nowadays wind environment research usually requires lots of comparisons of simulations to study influences on wind environment of building shapes and arrangements. This research aims to develop a novel methodology by integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, parametric tools and evaluation criteria. The integration of multiple tools can provide abundant functions and an efficient modelling-simulation-analysis solution for comparison studies. The methodology is consisted of parametric design, CFD simulation method and analysis method. It is further demonstrated in the case study of square form and scattered configuration to study the relationship between influences on winds and building variables through iterative analysis. For square form, the increase of edge length increases the influence, because more winds are obstructed by larger windward surfaces; the increase of rotation angle reduces the influence, because it is easier for winds to flow around non-vertical windward surfaces. For scattered configuration, the increase of building intervals reduces the influences on winds, because it is easier for winds to flow through larger intervals. In summary, the novel methodology provides an accurate and efficient integrated solution for wind environmental studies of contemporary buildings to explore basic laws for architects to improve their design on the early stage.