Numerical simulation of effects of roof factors on mean wind pressure on gable-roofed low-rise buildings with eaves

Based on Fluent 6.0 software platform and with RSM model,the effects of roof parameters on wind pressures of gable-roofed low-rise buildings with eaves,which are common in the coastal areas of China,were investigated with numerical simulation technique.Firstly the numerically simulation results of a basic low-rise building were compared with wind tunnel test data to verify the applicability of the turbulence model and the selected parameters.The effects of key parameters,including roof pitch,length and height of overhang eaves,and wind direction on the distribution characteristics and variation law of the wind pressure on the gable roofs were then analyzed.The numerical results indicate that the roof pitch has great influence on the wind pressure,while the length of overhang eaves has only partial influence and the height of overhang eaves has very little influence on the pressure distribution.Moreover,the influence levels of different roof parameters on the wind pressure distributions are also affected by wind direction.The results can be adopted as reference of design of low-rise buildings in the coastal areas of China.