Fluid simulations in heritage science

Abstract

This review addresses the use of computational fluid dynamics for the interpretation and preservation of heritage. Fluid dynamic simulations in the heritage field focus mostly on slow air movement in indoor spaces and they usually involve temperature and humidity. Simulations have different roles: they may be exploratory, they may be used to support preventive conservation and occasionally they aid historical or archaeological interpretation. The research questions rarely involve testing or development of new mathematical formulations; instead, existing computational models are used as a means to help solve practical issues. Computationally, the simulations are typically steady-state and they always use a turbulence model. Experimental validations against measured data are uncommon and there is a need for the production of benchmarking cases and the publication of experimental data. Further research is needed in order to explore suitable approximations to the simulation of change in the time-scale of months or years, low turbulence flows for which current mainstream turbulence models are ill-suited, and new mathematical formulations for near-wall transport phenomena.