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Experimental study on the air flow around an isolated stepped flat roof building: Influence of snow cover on flow fields

2020; Elsevier BV; Volume: 203; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jweia.2020.104244

1872-8197

Zhu Fu, Zhixiang Yu, Zhixiang Liu, Xiaoxiao Chen, Ruizhou Cao, Hao Qin,

Cryospheric studies and observations

In this study, the flow field distribution around an isolated stepped flat roof building and the influence of snow cover on flow fields are investigated by wind tunnel experiments based on particle image velocimetry (PIV) technology. Firstly, the stable snow cover, which is obtained based on the previous wind tunnel test of snowdrift on stepped flat roofs, is made by using 3D printing technology. Then two groups of models with and without snow cover on roofs are used in a low-speed wind tunnel and the experiments of flow around buildings are carried out. The significant differences of flow characteristic on roofs between without and with snow cover are that when there exists a snow cover, the reverse flow on the lower roof almost disappears and the recirculation vortex only exists at the rear region of lower roof. In addition, when there is with snow cover on roofs, the strength of flow separation and the peak value of vorticity at the higher roof is enhanced. With the existence of snow cover on roofs, turbulent kinetic energy significantly decreases by 51.1% compared with that without snow cover. Finally, the relationship between the distribution coefficient of snow depth and flow patterns is analyzed, and it is found that the linear relationship is fitted well in the front and rear regions on the lower roof.