An open-source computational wind load evaluation workflow for tall building design

Abstract

Wind load evaluation (WLE) of tall buildings is a complex process as multiple factors influence the final results. The reliability of the evaluation is dependent on the analysis accuracy of each factor. Traditionally, wind tunnels have been the primary method of performing WLE studies but recent growth in computational resources has led to a wider adoption of computational-based wind engineering. However, for these computational studies to be used in research and practice, it is imperative that they maintain a high level of accuracy. The current study presents the development of an open-source computational-based WLE workflow for the design of tall buildings. The proposed workflow adapts established methods from wind tunnel studies and integrates them into a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based pipeline. Each step within the WLE analysis is discusses, along with the relevant background information. Separating each step of the WLE pipeline into a unique and modular component provides engineers and researchers with the foundational knowledge required to perform computational WLE studies. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed workflow is validated using a WLE study performed in the wind tunnel.