Optimization Design of Open Spaces Based on Wind Tunnel and CFD Simulation: Case Study of a Street Canyon in Northern China

Abstract

Airflow in open spaces can significantly affect spatial quality. Therefore, according to the type of building structures, the airflow also has different forms. Studies have been conducted on the relation between airflow and pedestrian comfort; however, only few of them have focused on comprehensive urban planning that considers different weather conditions and people's ability to adapt. This research focuses on the differences in wind conditions caused by different spatial forms in different seasons. On the basis of a field survey in both summer and winter in a public open space, evaluation standards developed from environmental meteorological data and public feedback were used to evaluate simulation results. Next, several assumptions about canyon orientation and building types were proposed. Wind tunnel and CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulations were conducted to evaluate the assumptions. The results showed that the canyon orientation significantly affected overall wind conditions and different building structures affected airflow. This research also provides a method to evaluate urban areas that have complicated wind environments.