Result Verification for Numerical Modeling of Wind Effects on Unique Buildings and Structures

Despite the fact that wind tunnel testing is quite expensive and time-consuming, physical modeling in wind tunnels remains the primary method for determining wind effects on unique buildings and structures. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides more variability, calculations are performed faster and at a lower cost. However, the issue of accuracy of integral characteristics obtained as a result of numerical modeling and, accordingly, verification procedure remains open. Currently, when using numerical modeling results in structural aerodynamics, it is mandatory to verify them with experimental data. In recent years, studies have explored the CFD potential for accurate wind load predictions, but there have not been studies presenting a comprehensive description and implementation of a verification and validation system to analyze wind effects on unique buildings and structures. The purpose of the study was to compare the CFD results with the wind tunnel test data for three different objects, analyze the results, and propose a method for verification and validation of CFD analysis of wind effects on unique buildings and structures. The following methods were used: physical testing of models of unique buildings and structures in a wind tunnel, including a detailed method of experimental studies to determine integral aerodynamic characteristics, as well as numerical modeling of wind effects using ANSYS. Numerical modeling was performed in two setups: with and without virtual wind tunnel modeling. As a result, it is shown that virtual wind tunnel modeling makes it possible to achieve better data consistency when verifying numerical modeling results with physical modeling data, and the proper use of numerical modeling technology can significantly reduce the time and cost of experimental studies in a wind tunnel and/or reduce the design time by decreasing the number of considered loading scenarios.