A method of finite element mesh generation for wind simulation in cities

ABSTRACT: This research aims at a mesh generation method for the finite element analysis of wind environment in cities. In the present approach, a three-dimensional mesh is made by making the bottom planar mesh at the ground level of the computational domain, and piling it up to the direction of height. In making the bottom mesh, the configuration of the building base is transformed to a shape composed of segments, all of which are parallel to the orthogonal coordinate axes. This transformed space is filled with a set of rectangular finite elements. This finite elements mesh is mapped back to the original physical space. As a consequence of the procedures, quite smooth finite element meshes suitable for the finite element wind analysis in cities can be obtained.