Wind and Structures
Volume 5, Number 2, 2002, pages 337-346
DOI: 10.12989/was.2002.5.2_4.337
A comparative investigation of the TTU pressure envelope. Numerical versus laboratory and full scale results
S.A. Bekele and H. Hangan(Canada)
Abstract
Wind tunnel pressure measurements and numerical simulations based on the Reynolds StressrnModel (RSM) are compared with full and model scale data in the flow area of impingement, separationrnand wake for 60 o and 90 o wind azimuth angles. The phase averaged fluctuating pressures simulated by thernRSM model are combined with modelling of the small scale, random pressure field to produce the total,rninstantaneous pressures. Time averaged, rsm and peak pressure coefficients are consequently calculated.rnThis numerical approach predicts slightly better the pressure field on the roof of the TTU (Texas TechrnUniversity) building when compared to the wind tunnel experimental results. However, it shows a deviationrnfrom both experimental data sets in the impingement and wake regions. The limitations of the RSM modelrnin resolving the intermittent flow field associated with the corner vortex formation are discussed. Also,rncorrelations between the largest roof suctions and the corner vortex
Key Words
RSM turbulent model; pressure peak values; corner vortex; TTU building.
Address
S. A. Bekele and H. Hangan, The Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada