Title: On the effect of the aspect ratio on flow and turbulence over a two-dimensional street canyon

Authors: Annalisa Di Bernardino; Paolo Monti; Giovanni Leuzzi; Giorgio Querzoli

Addresses: DICEA, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy ' DICEA, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy ' DICEA, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, 00184, Rome, Italy ' Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale e Architettura, Università di Cagliari, Via Marengo 3, 09123, Cagliari, Italy

Abstract: This paper presents a water-channel simulation of flow and turbulence in the urban boundary layer. The goal is to assess the role played by the aspect ratio (AR) of the street canyon, assumed as an archetype for more complex and realistic urban fabrics. The physical model consists of a series of two-dimensional obstacles used to mimic a regular array of buildings. Velocity measurements are performed using image analysis. Results show a dependence of the mean velocity and turbulence parameters on AR. Attention is particularly focused on the turbulent kinetic energy and its production-advection-dissipation mechanisms that occur in the urban canopy.

Keywords: buildings; 2D street canyons; urban canopy; turbulent kinetic energy; aspect ratio; skimming flow; wake interference regime; turbulence; water channel simulation; urban boundary layers; modelling; velocity measurements; image analysis; pollutant dispersion; emissions dispersion; air pollution; air quality; advection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2015.076581

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2015 Vol.58 No.1/2, pp.27 - 38

Received: 22 Dec 2014
Accepted: 28 Oct 2015
Published online: 16 May 2016 *

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