High Fidelity Modeling of Urban Features

In principle, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models can predict fine scale features of dispersion in urban environments where flow separations and complicated heat transfer exist. The fidelity of the CFD computations, however, is bounded by the available computer resources and by limited knowledge of local geometry and detailed material properties. This study examines a multiple building scenario with coupled thermal radiation, conduction, and convection effects.

The test case is the West Campus complex of Penn State University. By altering grid resolution and detail of local material properties, dispersion uncertainty is assessed as a function of model resolution. The study elucidates dispersion uncertainty in large urban-dispersion CFD models.