DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A comparison of numerical simulations and full-scale measurements of snowdrifts around buildings

  • Thiis, Thomas K. (Narvik Institute of Technology)
  • Published : 2000.06.25

Abstract

Snowdrifts around buildings can cause serious problems when formed on undesirable places. The formation of snowdrifts is highly connected to the wind pattern around the building, and the wind pattern is again dependent on the building design. The shear stress on the surface and snowdrifting around different buildings are investigated through CFD analysis and compared to measurements. The computations of shear stress shows local minima in the same areas as snowdrifts are formed. The snowdrifting computations utilises a drift-flux model where a fluid with snow properties is allowed to drift through a fluid with air properties. An apparent dynamic viscosity of the snow/air mixture is defined and used as a threshold criterion for snowdrifting. The results from the snowdrifting computations show increased snow density where snowdrifts are expected, and are in agreement with previous large-scale snowdrift measurements. The results show that computational fluid dynamics can be a tool for planning building design in snowdrifting areas.

Keywords

References

  1. Bang, B., Nielsen, A., Sundsbø, P.A. and Wiik, T. (1994), "Computer simulation of wind speed, wind pressure and snow accumulation around buildings (SNOW-SIM)", Energy and Buildings, 21, 235-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7788(94)90039-6
  2. Flow Science Inc., (1997), "Flow 3D users manual", Flow Science Inc., Los Alamos.
  3. Kind, R.J. (1981), "Snowdrifting", Handbook of Snow, Principles, Processes, Management and Use, 338-359 Gray, D.M., Male, H. ed.
  4. Martinuzzi, R., Tropea, C., (1993), "The flow around surface mounted, prismatic obstacles placed in a fully developed channel flow", Journal of Fluids Engineering, 115, 85-92. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2910118
  5. Mellor, M. and Fellers, G. (1986), "Concentration and flux of wind-blown snow", US Army Corps of Engineers, Special Report 86-11.
  6. Murakami, S. (1993), "Comparison of various turbulence models applied to a bluff body", J. Wind Eng. and Industrial Aerodynamics, 46 & 47. 21-36.
  7. Owen, P.R. (1964), "Saltation of uniform grains in air", J. Fluid Mech., 20, 225-242. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112064001173
  8. Pomeroy, J.W., Gray, D.M. (1990), "Saltation of snow", Water Resources Research, 26(7), 1583-1594. https://doi.org/10.1029/WR026i007p01583
  9. Stull, R.B. (1997), An Intoduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology, Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.
  10. Thiis, T.K., Gjessing, Y. (1999), "Large-scale measurements of snowdrifts around flat roofed and single pitch roofed buildings", Cold Reg. Science and Tech., 30 (1-3). 175-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-232X(99)00021-X

Cited by

  1. Acoustic snowdrift measurements: experiences from the FlowCapt instrument vol.32, pp.1, 2001, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-232X(01)00017-9
  2. Development of a system for predicting snow distribution in built-up environments: Combining a mesoscale meteorological model and a CFD model vol.99, pp.4, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2010.12.004
  3. Up-scaling CWE models to include mesoscale meteorological influences vol.99, pp.4, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2011.01.012
  4. CFD-DEM modeling of snowdrifts on stepped flat roofs vol.23, pp.6, 2016, https://doi.org/10.12989/was.2016.23.6.523
  5. A new method in measuring the velocity profile surrounding a fence structure considering snow effects vol.116, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2017.11.032
  6. Computational fluid dynamics simulation of snowdrift around buildings: Past achievements and future perspectives 2017, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2017.05.004
  7. Development of a new k–ε model to reproduce the aerodynamic effects of snow particles on a flow field vol.144, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2015.04.016
  8. Wind tunnel investigation of drifting snow development in a boundary layer vol.104-106, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jweia.2012.04.002
  9. An Eulerian equation for snow accumulation downstream of an object vol.53, pp.2, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016WR019673
  10. CFD modeling of snowdrift around a building: An overview of models and evaluation of a new approach vol.46, pp.4, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2010.10.020
  11. BASIC INVESTIGATION OF MODELING FOR EROSION AND ACCUMULATION ON SNOW SURFACE vol.74, pp.643, 2009, https://doi.org/10.3130/aije.74.1083
  12. Large scale studies of development of snowdrifts around buildings vol.91, pp.6, 2000, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-6105(02)00474-9
  13. Recent studies on drifting snow in architectural field vol.71, pp.2, 2009, https://doi.org/10.5331/seppyo.71.2_115
  14. Recent Progress in CFD Applications to Snowdrift around Buildings vol.37, pp.1, 2000, https://doi.org/10.5359/jawe.37.42
  15. Effect of bogie fairings on the snow reduction of a high-speed train bogie under crosswinds using a discrete phase method vol.27, pp.4, 2018, https://doi.org/10.12989/was.2018.27.4.255
  16. Wind-blown particulate transport: A review of computational fluid dynamics models vol.1, pp.3, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3934/mine.2019.3.508
  17. CFD simulations can be adequate for the evaluation of snow effects on structures vol.13, pp.4, 2000, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0643-0