Flow structure and near-field dispersion in arrays of building-like obstacles

Coceal, O. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0705-6755, Goulart, E. V., Branford, S., Thomas, T. G. and Belcher, S. E. (2014) Flow structure and near-field dispersion in arrays of building-like obstacles. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 125. pp. 52-68. ISSN 0167-6105 doi: 10.1016/j.jweia.2013.11.013

Abstract/Summary

Dispersion in the near-field region of localised releases in urban areas is difficult to predict because of the strong influence of individual buildings. Effects include upstream dispersion, trapping of material into building wakes and enhanced concentration fluctuations. As a result, concentration patterns are highly variable in time and mean profiles in the near field are strongly non-Gaussian. These aspects of near-field dispersion are documented by analysing data from direct numerical simulations in arrays of building-like obstacles and are related to the underlying flow structure. The mean flow structure around the buildings is found to exert a strong influence over the dispersion of material in the near field. Diverging streamlines around buildings enhance lateral dispersion. Entrainment of material into building wakes in the very near field gives rise to secondary sources, which then affect the subsequent dispersion pattern. High levels of concentration fluctuations are also found in this very near field; the fluctuation intensity is of order 2 to 5.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/35723
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.jweia.2013.11.013
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > NCAS Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	Elsevier
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