Numerical simulations of wind-driven rain on an array of low-rise cubic buildings and validation by field measurements

The relation between wind-driven rain (WDR) and its potential negative effects on the hygrothermal performance and durability of building facades can be better understood by the correct estimation of the spatial and temporal distribution of the WDR intensity. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with Eulerian Multiphase (EM) modeling are used to obtain accurate spatial and temporal information on WDR. The EM model has the advantage of predicting the WDR intensity on all surfaces of a complex geometry within the domain at once. There is a lack of numerical studies on the WDR intensity in generic and idealized multi-building configurations. In this paper, WDR intensities on an array of 9 low-rise cubic building models for wind from three different wind directions are estimated numerically using the EM model including the turbulent dispersion of raindrops. The numerical results are validated by comparing the calculated catch ratio values with data from field measurements in Dübendorf, Switzerland after two rain events with different characteristics. The CFD simulations successfully estimate the WDR intensities at the positions of 18 WDR gauges for both rain events. The influence of turbulent dispersion is found to be lower than 3% for both rain events. It is found that, for oblique wind directions, even though the maximum WDR intensity on the facades is lower, the whole building is exposed to up to 57% more WDR. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.