Climatic Design Principles of Underground Spaces Using CFD Simulation

Abstract

Iranians used wind catchers to achieve harmony between a structure and the environment and guarantee the environmental comfort of the indoor areas. Wind catchers were the symbols of Persian architecture and with introduction of modern technologies, these traditional elements became obsolete. Rapid population and traffic lead to use underground spaces in cities. This paper proves the ability of wind-catchers to provide natural ventilation in underground spaces based on climatic parameters. Simulation was conducted in complete computational fluid dynamics package to simulate wind in underground space. Results demonstrate that in specific climate condition, wind-catchers could provide natural ventilation for underground space.