Computerized Wind Tunnel Simulation of Cluster of

Buildings in Grid and Staggered Pattern using

Autodesk Flow Design
K.Vignesh
Graduate Student, Division of Structural Engineering
School of Mechanical and Building Sciences
VIT Chennai, Chennai, India
vignesh.k2013@vit.ac.in

AbstractThis paper brings out the pressure distribution of

cluster of buildings in grid and staggered pattern with different
combinations of key plans. Pressure distribution is that when the
wind force comes in contact with the buildings positive pressure,
negative pressure and uplift of roof develops in the building. This
creates the collapse in the building so to overcome this problem a
computerized wind simulation is needed over the buildings. in
computerized wind simulation a clear idea of air flow between
the buildings, pressure distribution of the buildings and air swirls
between the buildings can determined. The north side of the
building is taken as windward and south side of the building is
taken as the leeward side of the building. The surface pressure
distributions suction and air flow is measured in grid and
staggered building. The computerized wind flow and the analysis
are done by using Revit architecture and Autodesk Flow Design.
KeywordsAutodesk Flow Design, grid buildings, Revit
architecture, pressure distribution, staggered buildings, suction,
insert.

I. INTRODUCTION
In past decades the studies of wind flow on buildings are
performed in several parts of world. Unagitated disastrous
effects such as collapse of buildings, oscillation of buildings
and in order to consider the stability and safety of building a
wind flow analysis is concerned. When wind attacks the
building it creates positive pressure, negative pressure (suction)
and uplift on the roofs. Therefore wind flow analysis is done in
cluster of staggered and grid buildings using Autodesk Flow
Design. Four different kinds of model are developed to
investigate the pressure distribution in each staggered and grid
buildings. So far, few investigations and research works were
done in cluster of staggered and grid buildings using Autodesk
Flow Design.
Aishe Zhanga,b,, Cuilan Gao, Ling Zhang[1] has made
their investigation on numerical simulation of the wind field
around different building arrangements. Several models of
different parameters are created and pressure distribution of the
building is found and pressure correction is done by SIMPLEC
method. Aishe Zhang, Ming Gu[2] has made their
investigations on Wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations
of wind pressures on buildings in staggered arrangement. The
buildings are arranged staggered and adjacent to each other.

M.Ramesh Kannan
Assistant Professor, Division of Structural Engineering
School of Mechanical and Building Sciences
VIT Chennai, Chennai India
rameshkannan.m@vit.ac.in

Wind effects are done by using CFD technique and wind

tunnel test. In wind tunnel test the wind is allowed to flow
randomly throughout the models and pressure and moment
measurements are done in wind tunnel. The numerical
simulation of pressure distribution is done by renormalization
group (RNG). The values of pressure distribution are
compared. The numerical investigation is qualitative when
compared to wind tunnel test. Jae-Jin Kim, Jong-Jin Baik [3]
has made their investigation on A numerical study of the
effects of ambient wind direction on flow and dispersion in
urban street canyons using the RNG k turbulence model. A
group of building model and three types of flow patterns are
developed is used to investigate the flow direction, wind
pressure distributed between the buildings are calculated. Bert
Blocken, Jan Carmeliet, Ted Stathopoulos [4] has made their
investigation on CFD evaluation of wind speed conditions in
passages between parallel buildingseffect of wall-function
roughness modifications for the atmospheric boundary layer
flow. A group of parallel buildings are developed is used to
investigate the wind flow at the passage between the parallel
buildings. Shenghong Huang, Q.S Li, Shengli Xu [5] has made
their investigation on Numerical evaluation of wind effects on
a tall steel building by CFD. The wind effects are investigated
in tall steel building using CFD and the test results are
compared with the wind tunnel test model.
II. CLUSTER OF STAGGERED BUILDINGS
Staggered building is that a building has an improper
building elevation and key plan under sustainable condition. It
was first developed in the 1960s later the idea of staggered
building is used in several buildings such as hotels, apartment
buildings, hospital building, and etc.

Fig 1. Staggered building model

Nowadays the importance of staggered buildings has

increased due to its aesthetic appearance and innovative
designs to the buildings. Staggered buildings avoid the use of
interior columns to transfer loads to foundation instead they
themselves carry the load transfer. Cluster of staggered
buildings refers to group of staggered buildings and in which
wind simulation is going to be investigated. Wind pressure and
airflow between the buildings are measured using
computerized wind tunnel analysis. Four different kinds of
models are developed using revit architecture.
A. Staggered buildings on regular layout
Staggered buildings are arranged in regular layout in which
the spacing between the buildings are constant, the orientation
same for each buildings. The air flow, pressure distribution,
suction developed, vortex shed between the buildings are
investigated.

Fig 2. Staggered building in regular layout

B. Staggered building on irregular layout (left side)

Staggered buildings are arranged on irregular layout in
which the buildings are arranged irregularly on the left side of
the layout. The spacing between the buildings are constant, the
orientation of the buildings are same. The air flow, pressure
distribution, suction developed between the buildings are
investigated.

D. Staggered building on irregular layout

Staggered buildings are arranged on irregular layout in
which the buildings are arranged irregularly on both left and
right side of the layout. The spacing between the building and
the orientation of the building changes for each building. The
air flow, pressure distribution and suction developed between
the buildings are investigated.

Fig 5. Staggered building on irregular layout

III. CLUSTER OF GRID BUILDINGS

Grid building is that a building has a proper building
elevation and key plan under sustainable condition. Example
for a grid building is the rectangular building. In grid buildings
there will be no aesthetic appearance of the building, no
innovative designs are implemented these kinds of buildings.
Grid buildings use the interior columns to transfer the loads to
the foundation. The spacing between the buildings is same, and
the orientation of the buildings is same. The idea of grid
buildings is used in school buildings, residential
apartments.

Fig 6. Grid building model

Fig 3. Staggered building in irregular layout (left side)

C. Staggered buildings on irregular layout (right side)

Staggered buildings are arranged on a irregular layout in
which buildings are arranged irregularly on the right side of the
layout. The spacing and orientation between the buildings are
constant. The air flow, pressure distribution, suction developed
between the buildings are investigated.

Fig 4. Staggered building on irregular layout (right side)

Cluster of grid buildings refers to group of grid buildings

and in which wind simulation is going to be investigated. Four
different kinds of models are developed using revit
architecture.
A. Grid buildings on regular layout
Grid buildings are arranged in regular layout in which
the spacing between the buildings is constant. The air flow,
pressure distribution, suction developed, vortex shed between
the buildings are investigated.

Fig 7. Grid buildings on regular layout

B. Grid buildings on irregular layout (left side)

Grid buildings are arranged on irregular layout in which
the buildings are arranged irregularly on the left side of the
layout. The spacing between the buildings is constant. The air
flow, pressure distribution, suction developed between the
buildings are investigated.

Fig 8. Grid buildings on irregular layout (left side)

C. Grid building on irregular layout (right side)

Grid buildings are arranged on a irregular layout in which
buildings are arranged irregularly on the right side of the
layout. The spacing between the buildings is constant. The air
flow, pressure distribution, suction developed between the
buildings are investigated.

around the building. It helps to analyze a cluster of buildings. it

has the same features as that of wind tunnel test instead the
model is being created and analyzed using flow design. The
wind speed can be fixed as per the zone in which the model is
located and the tunnel size can be modified.
The advantages of flow design is it allows the user to
quickly see how the air flow and the wind interacts with the
model at various wind speed and directions as well as provides
the velocity, pressure and etc.
The flow design is used for several applications such as
automotive, aircraft, aerospace, consumer products, and
architectural building design. Out of which 22% is used for
architectural and building analysis. The airflow can be applied
from all the direction. The design will show where the air is
stagnant in surroundings, where air will migrate from source in
the surrounding areas.

Fig 11. Example of flow design

Fig 9. Grid buildings on irregular layout (right side)

D. Grid buildings on irregular layout

Grid buildings are arranged on irregular layout in which the
buildings are arranged irregularly on both left and right side of
the layout. The spacing between the building and the
orientation of the buildings are same. The air flow, pressure
distribution and suction developed between the buildings are
investigated.

Fig 10. Grid buildings on irregular layout

It shows the air accelerated away from the building,

recircular zones near windward side of building, accelerated
flow peak velocity; high and low pressure distribution regions.
Therefore the cluster of staggered buildings and cluster of grid
buildings are analyzed using flow design.
V. COMPUTERIZED WIND TUNNEL SIMULATION ON
CLUSTER OF STAGGERED BUILDINGS
To investigate the pressure distribution around the
buildings wind simulation is done on cluster of staggered
buildings. Since the pressure distribution of the building
determines whether the building is in stable condition or not.
Pressure distribution is that when the wind forces come in
contact with the building the windward side of the building
experiences the positive pressure and the leeward side of the
building experiences the negative pressure or suction. The
building may collapse if the negative pressure increases to
overcome these problems a wind simulation is needed on
buildings to check whether it will sustain the loads or forces
caused by the winds. In order to perform the wind analysis
certain datas are to be provided and it is known as wind data.

IV. FLOW DESIGN ANALYSIS

Later years to find whether the building withstands the
wind forces wind tunnel tests are performed which is
expensive. To overcome this problem Flow design analysis is
the software provided by Autodesk which allows analyzing the
pressure distribution of a building, maximum point of suction

The wind data used for this research are as follows:

Wind force = 50 m/s
Latitude = 13 north
Windward side = right side of the building
Leeward side = left side of the building

Computerized wind tunnel simulation is performed on

cluster of staggered buildings by using Autodesk flow design.
The simulation is used to investigate the pressure distribution
around the buildings and air flow around the buildings. The
simulation is adopted on four combinations of models.
A. Staggered building on irregular layout
Staggered buildings are arranged on irregular layout in
which the buildings are arranged irregularly on both left and
right side of the layout. The spacing between the buildings
remains constant. To check the building withstands the wind
forces the layout undergoes a computerized wind tunnel
simulation.

Fig 14. Computerized wind tunnel analysis of staggered buildings on irregular

layout (right side)

The inferences are the air flow is maximum on the right side
of the building. The suction is maximum on the left top most
corner of the building. The swirls of the airflow on the frontal
side of the layout.
VI.

Fig 12. Computerized wind tunnel analysis of staggered buildings on irregular

layout

The pressure distribution around the buildings is clearly seen.

The blue color represents the air flow accelerated away from
the buildings.
B. Staggered building on irregular layout (left side)
Staggered buildings are arranged on irregular layout in
which the buildings are arranged irregularly on left side of the
layout. The spacing between the buildings remains constant.
To check the buildings withstand the wind forces the layout
undergoes a computerized wind tunnel simulation.

COMPUTERIZED WIND TUNNEL SIMULATION

ON CLUSTER OF GRID BUILDINGS

To investigate the suction around the buildings and air flow

between the buildings wind simulation is done on cluster of
grid buildings. The positive and the negative pressure
determine the building in stable state or not. These positive and
negative pressures can be analyzed using computerized wind
tunnel simulation using Autodesk flow design. In order to
perform the wind analysis certain wind data are needed.
The wind data used for this research are as follows:
Wind force = 50 m/s
Latitude = 13 north
Windward side = right side of the building
Leeward side = left side of the building
This simulation is used to investigate the airflow intensity
between the buildings and the acceleration of the airflow in the
buildings, and the pressure distribution around the buildings.
The simulation is adopted for four combinations of models.
A. Grid buildings on regular layout
The buildings are arranged in regular layout in which the
spacing between the buildings is constant. To check the
building withstands the wind forces the layout undergoes a
computerized wind tunnel simulation.

Fig 13. Computerized wind tunnel analysis of staggered buildings on irregular

layout (left side)

The inferences are pressure distribution around the buildings.

The air flow accelerated between the buildings. The suction
develops mostly on the left side of the building. The air flow
intensity is high on the right side of the layout.
C. Staggered building on irregular layout (right side)
Staggered buildings are arranged on irregular layout in
which the buildings are arranged irregularly on right of the
layout. The spacing between the buildings is same and the
orientation remains constant for all the buildings.

Fig 15. Computerized wind tunnel analysis of grid buildings on regular layout

The inferences are the air flow between the buildings is less
due to the grid arrangement. The suction is developed on both

right side and left side of the layout. The windward side of the
layout is right side and leeward side is left side in the layout.
B. Grid buildings on irregular layout (left side)
The buildings are arranged on irregular layout in which the
buildings are arranged irregularly on the left side of the layout.
The spacing between the buildings is constant. To investigate
the air flow, pressure distribution, suction developed between
the buildings the model undergoes a computerized wind tunnel
analysis.

Fig 16. Computerized wind tunnel analysis of grid buildings on irregular layout
(left side)

The inferences are the airflow is accelerated well between the

buildings. The suction is maximum on the left side of the
layout. The air swirls developed on the left side of the layout.
The airflow is less between the buildings when compare to the
air flow surrounding the layout.
C. Grid building on irregular layout (right side)
Grid buildings are arranged on an irregular layout in which
buildings are arranged irregularly on the right side of the
layout. The spacing between the buildings is constant. To
investigate the air flow, pressure distribution, suction
developed between the buildings the models undergoes a
computerized wind tunnel analysis.

The inferences are the intensity of the accelerated air flow is

high. The air flow between the buildings is high when
compared to airflow around the surroundings of layout. The
suction is minimum in both right and left side of the building.
VII.

Thus from the above inferences the computerized wind

tunnel analysis gives a clear idea of wind flow around the
buildings. It can be tested in wind tunnel as a real time but it is
very expensive to test a model in wind tunnel.
Staggered models on irregular layout creates swirl between
the buildings which may collapse the building and it is not
sustainable.
Grid models on irregular layout (left side) create a swirl
between the buildings on the right side of the layout this
creates the twist of the building which results in collapse of the
building.
Thus the computerized wind tunnel analysis gives the clear
visualize of the building where the suction of the building will
be maximum and where the air gets accelerated between the
buildings through simulation. The further studies will be done
real time using wind tunnel.
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]

[4]

[5]

Fig 17. Computerized wind tunnel analysis of grid buildings on irregular layout
(right side)

CONCLUSION

Aishe Zhang, Cuilan Gao, Ling Zhang (2005) Numerical simulation of

the wind field Around Different Building Arrangements
Aishe Zhang, Ming Gu (2008) Wind Tunnel Tests and Numerical
Simulations of Wind Pressures on Buildings in Staggered Arrangement
Jae-Jin Kim, Jong-Jin Baik (2004) A numerical study of the effects of
ambient wind direction on flow and dispersion in urban street canyons
using the RNG keturbulence model
Bert Blocken, Jan Carmeliet, Ted Stathopoulos (2007) CFD evaluation of
wind speed conditions in passage between parallel buildingseffect of
wall-function roughness modifications for the atmospheric boundary layer
flow
Shenghong Huang, Q.S. Li, Shengli Xu (2006) Numerical evaluation of
wind effects on a tall steel building by CFD