Research Topics
Prediction and evaluation of pedestrian wind environments using wind tunnel experiments
Wind in urban areas can cause problems if it is too strong or too weak. We use one of the largest wind tunnel facilities in Japan to investigate prediction and evaluation methods to provide pedestrian wind environments that are compatible with local climatic characteristics.
Numerical prediction of flow field around buildings by CFD
Wind flow around buildings is determined by the complex interaction of atmospheric boundary layer flow and flow around bluff bodies, which is three-dimensional and highly turbulent. We develop and establish methods for the appropriate use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in such complex flow fields.
Physical and numerical simulations of pollutant dispersion around buildings
Various pollutants in urban areas are complexly transported by the interaction with the wind flow around buildings. We predict their advective and diffusive behavior using physical simulations based on wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations based on CFD.
CFD simulations of drifting and accumulating snow around buildings
Uneven snow distribution on roofs and around buildings causes various structural and planning problems. We establish prediction methods for these problems using CFD combined with other numerical models and expand the range of its application and improve its accuracy.
Physical and numerical simulations on cross-ventilation flow of buildings
Ventilation is a traditional means of summer cooling, and in recent years it has been attracting attention from the perspectives of energy conservation and maintaining healthy indoor environments. We predict and analyze complex wind interactions inside and outside buildings through physical simulation using wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulation based on CFD.
Utilization of wind energy in urban and building environments
Wind power is an important energy resource for maintaining sustainable global and urban environments. We evaluate the performance of small wind tunnels using a wind tunnel. We also use CFD to predict the optimal location of small wind turbines inside cities and around buildings.
