Computational fluid dynamics for building air flow prediction—current status and capabilities

Abstract Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) involves the solution of equations to predict velocity, pressure and temperature. Historically, the methods were developed for application in areas other than buildings, and their use in this field demands special considerations. This paper reviews the application of CFD to building environmental design, examining the major technical issues and identifying current status and potential. It is concluded that CFD codes can successfully be applied to building air flow prediction but they must be used with care and with the exercise of sound engineering judgement to get the best from them.

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