Natural ventilation via courtyards: the application of CFD.

Computational fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a powerfizl tool for analysing problems of air movement and has been increasingly widely used in applications in buildings. The emphasis has often been on its development as a replacement for the experimental approach, however, further work is needed to develop confidence in applying CFD to problems of air flow in buildings. It is suggested that CFD can be effectively used in an integrated manner together with experimental methods and that the interaction and integration of the two should be promoted in a variety of forms, and on a variety of levels within a research project. In this way the effectiveness of both the CFD and the experimental methods are enhanced. This approach has been applied to a study of the effectiveness of natural ventilation via courtyards, as part of a wider programme of work carried out at the Building Research Establishment. The CFD technique has been used to help formulate experiments, to assist in the interpretation of test results, and to perform parametric studies as well as exploring theoretical ideas. One of the important outcomes of the application of the CFD method has ben the foxmulation and verification of criterion for ensuring good courtyard ventilation.