Numerical Prediction of Wind-induced Internal Pressure on a Model Low-rise Building in Nigeria

Authors

  • Olumide O. Osokoya Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Keywords:

Internal Pressure, Low-rise building, Numerical Prediction, Wind incidence angle.

Abstract

Wind normally induces both external and internal pressures on buildings which may cause great instability of structures. These induced pressures in turn contribute to the total wind load of the building. Appropriate prediction of this induced pressure can be found effective in the prevention of building failures. In this study, the prediction of wind-induced internal pressure on a model low-rise building in Nigeria was carried out by numerical analysis. The test was carried out on a computational model of a building using ANSYS FLUENT software. The Renormalization Group k-ε turbulence model was used to simulate wind impact on the building of size (2.78m x 2.43m x 2.30m) with a gable roof (slope 45°) at incident angles 90° and 45°. A comparative analysis was carried out to distinguish the effect of dominant openings and also the direction of the wind on the induced pressure. Results obtained from the tests were the values of pressure coefficients in the interior of the building which were used to characterize the induced internal pressure. Contours, tables and plots were used as graphical aids for the presentation of results. The inexpensive and less strenuous determination of wind induced pressure using computational fluid dynamics as portrayed in this work thus prove the effectiveness of numerical prediction as a precautionary method for the preliminary design of buildings.

 

References

Ahmad S.; Muzzammil, M. & Zaheer, I. (2011): ‘Numerical prediction of wind loads on low buildings’ International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology, 3 (5), 59-72

Amin, J.A. & Ahuja, A.K. (2011): ‘Experimental study of wind-induced pressures on buildings of various geometries’. International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology 3 (5), 1-19

ASCE (2003): ‘Minimum design loads for buildings and other structures’. Issue 2 by American Society of Civil Engineers

Castelli, M.R., Toniato, S. and Benini, E. (2012): ‘Numerical simulation of the aerodynamic loads acting on top of the SMART centre for PV applications’ World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 63.

Cóstola D., Blocken B. & Hensen J.L.M. (2009) ‘Overview of pressure coefficient data in building energy simulation and airflow network programs’. Building and Environment. In press. Building Physics and Systems. Eindhoven, the Netherlands: Eindhoven University of Technology.

Endo, M. (2011). ‘Wind tunnel modeling and analysis of wind effects on low-rise buildings’. Unpublished Dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

FLUENT (2010). ‘A brief history of Fluent’. Retrieved from <http://www.fluent.com/about/history.htm>, 5th February, 2010

Guha, T.K.; Sharma, R.N. & Richards, P.J. (2009): ‘The effect of background leakage on wind induced internal pressure fluctuations in a low rise building with a dominant opening. Proceedings of 11th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Guha, T.K.; Sharma, R.N. & Richards, P.J. (2011): ‘Influence factors for wind induced internal pressure in a low rise building with a dominant opening’. Journal of Wind and Engineering, 8 (2), 1-17.

Holmes, J.D. & Ginger, J.D. (2012): ‘Internal pressures – The dominant windward opening case – A review’. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 100: 70 –76

Holmes, J.D. (1978) ‘Mean and fluctuating internal pressures induced by wind’. Wind Engineering Report 5/78. Queensland, England: James Cook University of North Queensland.

Joseph, E. & Minor, P.E. (1977): ‘Performance of roofing systems in wind storms’. Proceedings of NRCA/NBS Symposium on Roofing Technology, USA, Paper number 17.

Meroney, R.N.; Neff, D.E. & Birdsall, J.B. (1995): ‘Wind-tunnel simulation of infiltration across permeable building envelopes: Energy and air pollution exchange rates’. Proceedings of 7th International Symposium on Measurememt and Modeling of Environmental Flows, International Mechanical Engineering Conference.

National Building Code of Canada (2005): User's Guide - NBC 2005 Structural Commentaries (Part 4 of Division 8). National Building Code of Canada

Ramponi, R. & Blocken, B. (2012): ‘CFD simulation of cross-ventilation for a generic isolatedbuilding: impact of computational parameters’. Building and Environment 53: 34-48.

Sharma, R.N. (2009): ‘Wind Induced Internal Pressure in Buildings’. Structural/Wind Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series. Florida, U.S.A.: Florida International University

Shiau B. & Chang, H. (2008): ‘Measurements on the surface wind pressure characteristics of two square buildings under different wind attack angles and building gaps’. Taipei, Taiwan: Institute of Physics Academia Sinica

Smith, T. (2010): ‘Wind safety of the building envelope’. Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG).

Tecle, A.S., Jiru, T.E. & Bitsuamlak, G.T (2010): “Computational evaluation and validation of internal and external pressure for low-rise buildingâ€. Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Computational Wind Engineering, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.

Tieleman, H.W. (2003): ‘Wind tunnel simulation of wind loading on low-rise structures: a review’. Journal of Wind Engineering &. Industrial Aerodynamics, 91, 1627-1649.

Weather Spark (2013): Average weather for Ikeja, Nigeria. Retreived from: <http://weatherspark.com/averages/28568/Ikeja-Lagos-Nigeria>, 10th February, 2013.

Downloads

Published

2013-10-14

How to Cite

Numerical Prediction of Wind-induced Internal Pressure on a Model Low-rise Building in Nigeria. (2013). Asian Journal of Engineering and Technology, 1(4). https://ajouronline.com/index.php/AJET/article/view/406

Similar Articles

21-30 of 96

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.