Validation of CFD simulation through experimental study of wind pressures on H-shaped building

• Grant number: 21/10256-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: December 09, 2021
• End date: March 23, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Lucila Chebel Labaki
• Grantee: Talita Andrioli Medinilha de Carvalho
• Supervisor: Fernando Vitor Marques da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/07733-7 - Ventilation in H shaped buildings: an optimization of the shape based on the facades pressure coefficient, BP.DR

Abstract

Due to the great importance that natural ventilation has on thermal comfort, and since it is recommended for most of the Brazilian climates, several researchers indicate a low quality of natural ventilation in Brazilian buildings, especially in social housing, which means a harmful impacts on the life quality of millions of people in the country. In addition, 15% of residential buildings in Brazil occur in "H" shape, a statistically significant portion, especially if we consider the country's dimensions. In spite of this gap, in a literature review it wasn't found researches about natural ventilation of these buildings interior. Likewise, there are no Pressure Coefficient (Cp) databases available for these buildings (relevant data for simplifying simulations of natural ventilation), or publications on experiments in wind tunnel, which indicate that the subject is worth exploring. Therefore, Medinilha-Carvalho's doctoral thesis investigates the ventilation in "H" shaped buildings with the purpose of optimizing the shape basis on CFD simulations. Therefore, the object of the internship is to perform wind tunnel experiments with three "H" shaped models to obtain the surface pressure, and the objective is to validate the mentioned CFD simulations and enhance reliability of the data produced. For such, initially it has been defined representative models to undergo the wind tunnel simulations. Then the physical models will be produced and setup to the experiment, which will take place at the host University. Besides, the wind tunnel will be configured to meet the specifications of a suburban Atmospheric Boundary Layer. After the experiment is performed, data processing will be carried out in the context of the CFD validation and systematization of the database. With this study it is expected to inform architects and engineers in early design phase to enable more efficient designs of natural ventilation systems. Furthermore, the mentioned database will further provide the researchers access to natural ventilation simulations in BES software, reducing results uncertainties. Finally, this study is oriented towards social inclusion, since the products of this research will result in benefits for both researchers and residents of these buildings, optimizing the use of natural ventilation and reducing the cooling costs. (AU)