Visualization and metrics analysis of wind environments of typical high-rise residential building cluster configurations using CFD and image processing

In previous wind environmental studies, the consideration of newly built high-rise residential building clusters and comparison of influences of different architectural parameters were relatively primitive. This study aimed to visualize and analyse wind environments of typical high-rise residential building clusters in developing regions. It investigated the influences of unit numbers, transverse distances, longitudinal distances and staggered distances of building clusters. A methodology integrated by parametric modelling, CFD simulation and image processing was developed to evaluate 39 representative scattered configuration cases. The findings can be summarized as follows: (1) For building clusters with relatively large numbers of building units, the increase in longitudinal distance has relatively limited ventilation promotion effect. (2) It was recommended to increase transverse distance for ventilation promotion in building clusters with numerous units. (3) Though an increase in staggered distance can promote wind flow among building units, the total influence and the low-velocity area on the leeward side increase at the same time. (4) Low-velocity area in the wake is directly proportional to the windward projective area of the entire building cluster. The study contributes original knowledge to urban wind environments and benefits sustainable design of high-rise residential communities. Graphical abstract