CFD Modeling of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Simulations in Wind Tunnels

Wind tunnel tests of wind influence on ground objects require proper experimental modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). The authors have performed computational analyses with an aim to establish a reliable computational algorithm that could resemble complex flow patterns in wind tunnels with various obstacles, used to simulate appropriate velocity profiles within the ABL. For experimental verifications, measurements from two experimental facilities were applied, with speeds ranging from 1-4 m/s in the first, and 45 m/s in the second. For all considered cases, good agreements between the measured and computed speed profiles for operational engineering purposes have been achieved. In the sense of qualitative analyses, calculated contours of velocity magnitude and eddy viscosity inside the wind tunnel test sections have verified that good homogeneity of the simulated ABL in both wind tunnels had been established in the domains where velocity profiles were measured. Presented results have shown the capability of here established calculation model to resemble a number of costly wind tunnel test hours during preparations of proper obstacle arrangements for experimental ABL modeling in a wide wind speed range, and thus reduce the overall project costs. Also, presented CFD algorithm can readily be calibrated and used for engineering research of wind effects on different ground objects, as a virtual wind tunnel.