Modeling the neutrally stable atmospheric boundary layer for laboratory scale studies of the built environment

The properties of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) influence a range of physical phenomena in urban areas such as wind loading on buildings, wind-driven ventilation flows, pollution dispersion, and the lift off and transport of loose debris. In order to accurately model the ABL velocity profile...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Building and environment 2012-03, Vol.49, p.203-211
Main Authors: KARIMPOUR, A, KAYE, N. B, BARATIAN-GHORGHI, Z
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Air pollution
Applied sciences
Atmospheric boundary layer
Buildings. Public works
Climatology and bioclimatics for buildings
Computation methods. Tables. Charts
Curve fitting
Dispersions
Exact sciences and technology
Iterative methods
Mathematical models
Structural analysis. Stresses
Urban areas
Urban development
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The properties of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) influence a range of physical phenomena in urban areas such as wind loading on buildings, wind-driven ventilation flows, pollution dispersion, and the lift off and transport of loose debris. In order to accurately model the ABL velocity profile at laboratory scale, it is important to establish the shear velocity u*, surface roughness z sub(0), and zero plane displacement din either a wind tunnel or water flume. Current techniques for establishing these parameters are based on either an analysis of the boundary layer surface geometry or iterative curve fitting techniques that use mean velocity and/or turbulent kinetic energy profiles, occasionally combined with empirical correlations for z sub(0). A new curve fitting method for calculating these logarithmic velocity profile parameters is presented. This new method calculates u*, z sub(0), and ddirectly from time-averaged velocity profile data in just two steps without any iteration. A comparison is presented between the results of the new method and other available methods applied to a range of velocity profile measurements in air and water. The comparison shows that, although the new method requires less data and fewer steps, it calculates u* and z sub(0) with greater accuracy than existing techniques, and d with equivalent accuracy to existing techniques.
ISSN:0360-1323
1873-684X
DOI:10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.09.026