Large-eddy simulation of urban boundary-layer flows by generating turbulent inflows from mesoscale meteorological simulations

Abstract

We propose an approach to generate turbulent flows by using mesoscale meteorological simulations in order to conduct building-resolving large-eddy simulations (LESs) of boundary-layer flows over urban areas under realistic meteorological conditions. The urban surface geometry was explicitly represented in the LES model. This approach was applied for a strong wind event in Tokyo owing to the landfall of a major typhoon whose intensity and track were well reproduced in the meteorological simulation. The observed ranges of wind fluctuations and gust factors and significant decelerations of wind speeds within the urban canopy layer were successfully represented in the LES. © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society.