Integration of CFD in Computational Design An evaluation of the current state of the art

Abstract

The integration of building performance feedback in the design process is increasingly considered as a key aspect of the decision support framework that drives current high performance architecture, from early conception to fabrication. Although on other aspects of building performance there has been significant recent development on BPS integration in computational design, the integration of CFD is still largely unexplored, despite its significance in numerous design problems. This paper reviews the current state of advancement of integrated CFD simulation tools in computational design frameworks by evaluating three different integration approaches, each representing a different level of integration of CFD solvers within the commonly used computational design frameworks today. The objective of the study is neither to provide an extensive evaluation of all available CFD frameworks nor to assess the specific performance of the problem at hand, but rather to evaluate the potential and limitations of each integration approach from the perspective of the computational design user.