LES-based quantification of turbulence intensity effects on the wind pressure on low-rise elevated buildings

Elevated low-rise buildings are commonly used in oceanfront regions to reduce the impacts of surge, wave and flooding. However, the complex wind effects on elevated houses remain unclear. Turbulence intensity is one of the essential factors that affect aerodynamic pressures on elevated houses, which, however, is not well addressed in existing references. This research attempts to quantify the effects of turbulence intensity on aerodynamic pressures on low-rise elevated houses using large eddy simulation (LES). Based on a validated LES model, the wind turbulence intensities are varied by 10% to 30% in streamwise and spanwise directions and three wind directions are considered. The resulting pressure fluctuations are analyzed in terms of mean, root-mean-square (r.m.s.), and peak values to characterize the aerodynamic behavior of elevated low-rise buildings under varying turbulence intensities. Research results demonstrate that while the time-averaged mean and r.m.s. pressure statistics are insensitive to moderate turbulence variations, the peak pressure coefficients exhibit high sensitivity. Specifically, increasing the streamwise turbulence intensity by 30% can amplify the peak compressive pressure on windward walls by up to 82% and the floor suction pressure by 36%. This research provides a thorough quantification of turbulence intensity effects, offering data that can be incorporated into wind load datasets to inform the design and future modification of relevant engineering codes.