The practical application of CFD to wind engineering problems

Computational  Fluid  Dynamics  (CFD)  software  is increasingly being used to predict the effects of wind on buildings and on the people in and around them. It is well suited to studying the effects of wind speed on pedestrian comfort within and around buildings. The technique is known as Computational Wind Engineering (CWE). This paper presents examples of how the  authors have used commercial CFD codes for CWE to study the inclusion of new buildings in a campus at the University of Cambridge and inform the design team of its effects on human comfort. Another example is shown where comfort was studied, involving the analysis of complex fabric structures. Key issues of interest   to   designers   are   highlighted   and   areas requiring further work are identified.