Understanding the physics background of natural ventilation is not always easy for architects and designers. For them, during concept phase, the most important question is: “How is it possible to correctly design a windowing system which can improve natural ventilation in buildings?” So, they are not strictly interested to exactly calculate wind flows. In this case it look more suitable to develop some strategies for easily evaluate the problem from a qualitative point of view. This work presents how to create an affordable wind tunnel to develop user-friendly qualitative analysis of simplified models. To improve students skills, it was decided to create a wind tunnel trying to not exceed a maximum budget of 3000 euros. By this way, the instrument created could be a reference prototype easily reproducible for universities and professionals. This prototype was tested for two years, during didactic courses, asking students to interact with it. So, some simplified models were created to test simple ventilation scenarios (e.g. crossing ventilation, bypass ventilation, wind chimney, …). Regarding the results achieved during educational activities, it is possible to consider the wind tunnel as a very useful instrument for students, during didactic courses and thesis phases, or for professionals, to make affordable comparisons between simplified evaluations and CFD calculations.
"Easy Wind Tunnel", a fluid dynamic approach for everyone
Girasoli , Maria Teresa;
2012
Abstract
Understanding the physics background of natural ventilation is not always easy for architects and designers. For them, during concept phase, the most important question is: “How is it possible to correctly design a windowing system which can improve natural ventilation in buildings?” So, they are not strictly interested to exactly calculate wind flows. In this case it look more suitable to develop some strategies for easily evaluate the problem from a qualitative point of view. This work presents how to create an affordable wind tunnel to develop user-friendly qualitative analysis of simplified models. To improve students skills, it was decided to create a wind tunnel trying to not exceed a maximum budget of 3000 euros. By this way, the instrument created could be a reference prototype easily reproducible for universities and professionals. This prototype was tested for two years, during didactic courses, asking students to interact with it. So, some simplified models were created to test simple ventilation scenarios (e.g. crossing ventilation, bypass ventilation, wind chimney, …). Regarding the results achieved during educational activities, it is possible to consider the wind tunnel as a very useful instrument for students, during didactic courses and thesis phases, or for professionals, to make affordable comparisons between simplified evaluations and CFD calculations.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
