CFD simulations of interference effects of two low-rise buildings on snow load

A modified Eulerian method for snowdrifts was proposed by introducing the snow particle capture efficiency. The relationships between the modified method and the previous methods were discussed, the results showed that the previous methods are special cases of the modified method. Based on the modified method, the impacts of the location and the height of the interfering building on the snow distribution on the target building were studied. The location of the interfering building seriously affects the snow distribution on the roof of the target building. Four typical interference modes were found through simulations. Significant interference effects on snow load occur when the interfering building is higher than the target building, and it becomes more powerful with the increase of the height of the interfering building.