NUMERICAL STUDY ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUILDING SHAPE AND GROUND-LEVEL WIND VELOCITY

This paper describes the studies conducted to clarify the relationship between the building shape and the ground-level wind velocity through numerical simulation using a k-epsilon turbulence model. Special emphasis is given to the reduction of the ground-level wind velocity through the incorporation of horizontal void spaces(open spaces at an intermediate level or around pilotis of the building), and setbacks of windward surfaces. These numerical simulations have been applied to the outdoor wind velocity around a recently completed office building located in Tokyo, Japan. This building has a two-stage setback with a void space between the low and the middle levels of the building. This building design allows strong winds at the high level to pass through the void space, and enables wind velocity in the adjacent residential area to be reduced.