Physical Modeling of Bolund

in an

Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel

Brad C. Cochran
Sr. Associate
CPP, Inc.
1415 Blue Spruce Drive
Fort Collins, CO
www.cppwind.com
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
Schematic

4 – 12 kW Fans
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
Schematic
Low Velocity Region
w/ Turning Vanes
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
Schematic

Converging Nozzle
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
Schematic

Flow Straightners
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
Schematic

Boundary Layer
Development Section
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
Schematic

Test Section
Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel
Schematic

Blockage
Resistant Roof
Typical Applications
Wind Induced Building Loads

Superdome and New Orleans Arena

John Hancock Building - Boston

Typical Applications
Pedestrian Level Wind Environment
Typical Applications
Plume Dispersion
Typical Applications
Airflow in Complex Terrain Environments
Physical Modeling
Theory

Navier-Stokes Equations
Continuity
∂
(ρv ) + ∇ ⋅ (ρvv ) = −∇p + ∇ ⋅τ + ρF
∂t
Momentum
∂
+ ∇ ⋅ (ρv ) = 0
∂t
Energy
∂
(ρe ) + ∇ ⋅ (ρve ) = − p∇ ⋅ v + τ : ∇v − ∇ ⋅ q
∂t
Physical Modeling
Scaling Parameters

• Undistorted scaling geometry

• Equal dimensionless boundary and approach
flow conditions
• Equal Rossby number – U/LΩ
• Equal gross Richardson number –
[ΔT/T](L/U2)g
• Equal Reynolds number – UL/υ
• Equal Prandtl number - n/(k/rCp)
• Equal Eckert number – U2/[Cp(ΔT)]
Physical Modeling
Scaling Parameters

• Undistorted scaling geometry

• Equal dimensionless boundary and approach
flow conditions Coriolis effects
• Equal Rossby number – U/LΩ minimal in the
near field
• Equal gross Richardson number –
[ΔT/T](L/U2)g
• Equal Reynolds number – UL/υ
• Equal Prandtl number - n/(k/rCp)
• Equal Eckert number – U2/[Cp(ΔT)]
Physical Modeling
Scaling Parameters

• Undistorted scaling geometry

• Equal dimensionless boundary and approach
flow conditions
• Equal Rossby number – U/LΩ
• Equal gross Richardson number –
[ΔT/T](L/U2)g Neutral
Stratification
• Equal Reynolds number – UL/υ
• Equal Prandtl number - n/(k/rCp)
• Equal Eckert number – U2/[Cp(ΔT)]
Physical Modeling
Scaling Parameters

 UL   UL 
  = 
 υ  model  υ  fullscale
(L )model = (L )fullscale / 100
(υ )model = (υ )fullscale NOT
POSSIBLE!
(U )mod el = (U ) fullscale ×100 = 1,000 m / s
Physical Modeling
Reynolds Number Independence

• Ensure a fully turbulent wake flow

Terrain or Building Reynolds Number greater
than 11,000 (ReT = UHT/υ )
U = 10 m/s
HT = 0.25 m
υ = 1.15x10-5 m2/s
ReT = 217,391
 History
Timeline

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Abe (1929) studies

air flow over a scale
model of Mt. Fuji
 History
Timeline

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Golden (1961) Defines

minimum acceptable
Reynolds number to
achieve Reynolds number
independence
 History
Timeline

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Cermak and Davenport

(1964) measured wind
loads on a scale model of
the World Trade Centers in
New York
 History
Timeline

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Cermak (1975) Publishes

Freeman Scholar Lecture on
wind tunnel simulation methods
(Resulting in wind tunnel
modeling being accepted by
most building codes)
 History
Timeline

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

US EPA (1981) Publishes

Fluid modeling guideline
for wind tunnel simulations
History
Timeline

A properly executed wind tunnel study

is, in effect, equivalent to an analog
computer with near infinitesimal
resolution and near infinite memory.

The basic equations are solved by

simulating the flow at a reduced scale,
then measuring the desired quantity

- U.S. EPA Fluid Modeling Guideline

 History
Timeline

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

By 2009 over 5000

building have been testing
in an atmospheric
boundary layer wind
tunnel, including the
worlds tallest Burj Dubai
History
Validation in Wind Energy Applications
History
Validation in Wind Energy Applications
History
Validation in Wind Energy Applications

160 160

140 140

120 120

100 100
Height (m)

80 80

60 60

40 40

20 20

0 0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0
Velocity (U/Uref) Turbulence Intensity (%)

Measured Met Mast - Neutral Measured Met Mast - Neutral

Met Mast - Stable Met Mast - Unstable Met Mast - Stable Met Mast - Unstable
Conducting a Wind Tunnel Study
Create 3-D representation in CAD
Conducting a Wind Tunnel Study
Create Physical Model using a 3-D Mill
Conducting a Wind Tunnel Study
Establish an Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Data Power Law Data Log Law Target
n= 0.09 n= 0.12 n= 0.10
intercept = 0.006 U* = 0.320 zo = 0.0003
zo = 0.0001

Mean Velocity Profile Turbulence Intensity Profile

1.20 1.20

1.00 1.00

0.80 0.80

Height, z/z ref

0.60 0.60

0.40 0.40

0.20 0.20

0.00 0.00
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 1.20 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Mean Velocity, U/URef Turbulence Intensity, Urms/U, %

Measured Data Target
Data Target
Conducting a Wind Tunnel Study
Install Model in the Wind Tunnel
Conducting a Wind Tunnel Study
Measure wind speeds using a 5-holed probe mounted on a 3-D
traverse
5-Holed Probe Used to
Measure the Local Wind Vector
and Turbulence Intensity

Velocity Vector
Z

VERT
Y X
W -HORZ
V U
Definition of flow angles; x axis defines the approach wind direction
Conducting a Wind Tunnel Study
Measure wind speeds using a 5-holed probe mounted on a 3-D
traverse
Flow Visualization
270 Degree Wind Direction
Results
239 Degree Wind Direction
Flow Visualization
270 Degree Wind Direction
Flow Visualization
239 Degree Wind Direction
 Physical Modeling of Bolund
in an

Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel

Brad C. Cochran, P.E.
Sr. Associate
CPP, Inc.
1415 Blue Spruce Drive
Fort Collins, CO
www.cppwind.com