• Title/Summary/Keyword: flat roofs

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Wind tunnel tests and CFD simulations for snow redistribution on 3D stepped flat roofs

  • Yu, Zhixiang;Zhu, Fu;Cao, Ruizhou;Chen, Xiaoxiao;Zhao, Lei;Zhao, Shichun
    • Wind and Structures
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.31-47
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    • 2019
  • The accurate prediction of snow distributions under the wind action on roofs plays an important role in designing structures in civil engineering in regions with heavy snowfall. Affected by some factors such as building shapes, sizes and layouts, the snow drifting on roofs shows more three-dimensional characteristics. Thus, the research on three-dimensional snow distribution is needed. Firstly, four groups of stepped flat roofs are designed, of which the width-height ratio is 3, 4, 5 and 6. Silica sand with average radius of 0.1 mm is used to model the snow particles and then the wind tunnel test of snow drifting on stepped flat roofs is carried out. 3D scanning is used to obtain the snow distribution after the test is finished and the mean mass transport rate is calculated. Next, the wind velocity and duration is determined for numerical simulations based on similarity criteria. The adaptive-mesh method based on radial basis function (RBF) interpolation is used to simulate the dynamic change of snow phase boundary on lower roofs and then a time-marching analysis of steady snow drifting is conducted. The overall trend of numerical results are generally consistent with the wind tunnel tests and field measurements, which validate the accuracy of the numerical simulation. The combination between the wind tunnel test and CFD simulation for three-dimensional typical roofs can provide certain reference to the prediction of the distribution of snow loads on typical roofs.

Influence of green roofs on the seismic response of frame structures

  • Bianchini, Fabricio;Haque, A.B.M. Rafiqul;Hewage, Kasun;Alam, M. Shahria
    • Earthquakes and Structures
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.265-280
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    • 2016
  • Environmental and operational benefits of green roofs are manifolds; however, their main disadvantages are cost and weight. New technology enabled the use of plastics to reduce the weight of green roof systems to promote their installation. To maximize their potential benefits, green roofs can be installed on existing structures. This study evaluates the influence of green roofs on the seismic response of 3, 6, and 8 storey reinforced concrete ductile moment resisting frames, which were designed according to current seismic standards, however, not designed for green roofs. For each frame, three different types of roofs are considered: gravel flat roof, extensive green roof, and intensive green roof. Nonlinear dynamic time history analysis using an ensemble of twenty real earthquake records was performed to determine the inter-storey drift demand and roof drift demand for each frame. Eigenvalue analysis was also performed to determine the impact of green roofs weight on the elastic and cracked periods of the structure. Results from the analysis demonstrated that intensive and extensive green roofs do not affect the seismic performance of reinforced concrete frame structures.

CFD-DEM modeling of snowdrifts on stepped flat roofs

  • Zhao, Lei;Yu, Zhixiang;Zhu, Fu;Qi, Xin;Zhao, Shichun
    • Wind and Structures
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    • v.23 no.6
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    • pp.523-542
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    • 2016
  • Snowdrift formation on roofs should be considered in snowy and windy areas to ensure the safety of buildings. Presently, the prediction of snowdrifts on roofs relies heavily on field measurements, wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations. In this paper, a new snowdrift modeling method by using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) coupled with DEM (Discrete Element Method) is presented, including material parameters and particle size, collision parameters, particle numbers and input modes, boundary conditions of CFD, simulation time and inlet velocity, and coupling calculation process. Not only is the two-way coupling between wind and snow particles which includes the transient changes in snow surface topography, but also the cohesion and collision between snow particles are taken into account. The numerical method is applied to simulate the snowdrift on a typical stepped flat roof. The feasibility of using coupled CFD with DEM to study snowdrift is verified by comparing the simulation results with field measurement results on the snow depth distribution of the lower roof.

Wind pressures on different roof shapes of a finite height circular cylinder

  • Ozmen, Y.;Aksu, E.
    • Wind and Structures
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.25-41
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    • 2017
  • The effects of finite cylinder free end shape on the mean and fluctuating wind pressures were investigated experimentally and numerically by using three different roof shapes: flat, conical and hemispherical. The pressure distributions on the roofs and the side walls of the finite cylinders partially immersed in a simulated atmospheric boundary layer have been obtained for three different roof shapes. Realizable $k-{\varepsilon}$ turbulence model was used for numerical simulations. Change in roof shapes has caused significant differences on the pressure distributions. When compared the pressure distributions on the different roofs, it is seen from the results that hemispherical roof has the most critical pressure field among the others. It is found a good agreement between numerical and experimental results.

Wind-induced dynamic response and its load estimation for structural frames of circular flat roofs with long spans

  • Uematsu, Yasushi;Yamada, Motohiko
    • Wind and Structures
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.49-60
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    • 2002
  • This paper describes a simple method for evaluating the design wind loads for the structural frames of circular flat roofs with long spans. The dynamic response of several roof models were numerically analyzed in the time domain as well as in the frequency domain by using wind pressure data obtained from a wind tunnel experiment. The instantaneous displacement and bending moment of the roof were computed, and the maximum load effects were evaluated. The results indicate that the wind-induced oscillation of the roof is generally dominated by the first mode and the gust effect factor approach can be applied to the evaluation of the maximum load effects. That is, the design wind load can be represented by the time-averaged wind pressure multiplied by the gust effect factor for the first mode. Based on the experimental results for the first modal force, an empirical formula for the gust effect factor is provided as a function of the geometric and structural parameters of the roof and the turbulence intensity of the approach flow. The equivalent design pressure coefficients, which reproduce the maximum load effects, are also discussed. A simplified model of the pressure coefficient distribution is presented.

Changes in Plant Species on a Grass Roof over Time (초지지붕에서의 시간경과에 따른 식생변화)

  • Lee, Young-Moo
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.34 no.6 s.119
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    • pp.39-53
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    • 2007
  • Unlike conventional roof landscaping, where various kinds of plants and structures are employed, a grass roof is a roof on which herbaceous plants are grown in planting medium and which is not accessed or maintained, mainly because it doesn't have sufficient load capacity to support a regular roof garden. They are mostly built on existing roofs, whether flat slab or gabled. Planting on roofs has numerous advantages, such as creating a biotope, purifying urban air, adding moisture to the atmosphere, storing rain water, preventing flash floods, reducing energy use for heating and air conditioning, enhancing the urban landscape and providing relaxation to the city dwellers, not to mention the alleviation of global warming by absorbing $CO_2$. In addition to the general merits of roof planting, the grass roof has its own unique qualities. Only herbaceous species are planted on the roof, resulting in light weight which allows roofs of existing buildings to be planted without structural reinforcement. The species chosen are mostly short, tough perennials that don't need to be maintained. These conditions provide an ideal situation where massive planting can be done in urban areas where roofs are often the only and definitely the largest space available to be planted. If roofs are planted on a massive scale they can play a significant role in alleviating global warming, heat island effects and energy shortages. Despite the advantages of grass roofs, there are some problems. The most significant problem is the invasion of neighboring plants. They may be brought in with the planting medium, by birds or by wind. These plants have little aesthetic value comparing to the chosen species and are usually taller. Eventually they dominate and prevail over the original species. The intended planting design disappears and the roof comes to look wild. Since the primary value of a grass roof is ecological, a change in attitude towards what constitutes beauty on the roofscape is necessary. Instead of keeping the roof neat through constant maintenance, people must learn that the wild grass with bird's nests on their roof is more beautiful as it is.

Flow Analysis due to the Configuration of Automotive Spoiler (자동차 스포일러의 형상에 따른 유동해석)

  • Han, Moonsik;Cho, Jaeung
    • Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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    • v.24 no.6
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    • pp.677-683
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    • 2016
  • In this study, the pressures due to air resistances on the models of 1, 2, 3 and 4 as the automotive bodies grafted on various spoilers are investigated through the flow analysis. Model 1 has the flat type and model 2 has the shape that a flat plane is projected. Model 3 is attached with the slanted plate and model 4 has the shape that two slanted plates are installed on both sides. At the flow streams on the models of 1, 2, 3 and 4, the flow velocities are shown to become highest above the roofs of automotive bodies. The maximum flow velocities are also shown at the beginning points at the roofs of car bodies on the side planes of automotive bodies. The maximum pressures of 102,500 to 102,553 Pa as air resistances are shown at the bumpers of the front car bodies. The flow velocities on the inlet and middle planes become nearly same at the models of 1, 2, 3 and 4. But these velocities on the inlet plane at model 2 projected with the spoiler of flat plate become lower than the models of 1, 3 and 4. The air streams throughout the models become uniform at all models. The flow stream is shown most uniformly at model 2 projected with the spoiler of flat plate. But the flow stream is shown most irregularly at model 3 projected with the spoiler of slanting plate. By using the result of this flow analysis, it is thought to reduce the power of car effectively in driving by changing the configuration of automotive spoiler.

Comparative Evaluation of Surface Temperature among Rooftop Colors of Flat Roof Building Models : Towards Performance Evaluation of Cool Roof (평지붕 건물 축소모형의 지붕색에 대한 표면 온도의 비교평가: 쿨루프 성능평가 차원에서)

  • Ryu, Taek Hyoung;Um, Jung-Sup
    • KIEAE Journal
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    • v.13 no.6
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    • pp.83-91
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    • 2013
  • Cool roofs are currently being emerged as one of important mechanism to save energy in relation to the building. It is specifically proposed that the changing trends of rooftop surface temperature in the flat roof building model could be used effectively as an indicator to reduced cooling load reduced by cool roof since it can present stable temperature record, that is not influenced according to the nearby physical as well as human variables. The temperature of cool roof in summer was lower around $20^{\circ}C$, compared to the general roofs. Such a seasonal or daily comparative study for rooftop temperature in the building model will highlight that the cool roof efficiency could be calculated in much area-wide context according to rooftop color distribution in urban residential area. It is anticipated that this research output could be used as a valuable reference in identifying energy saving by cool roof since an objective monitoring has been proposed based on the rooftop temperature in the building model, fully quantitative performance of thermal infrared image.

A Study on the Hipped-and-Gable-Roof Framework of Muryangsujeon of Buseoksa Temple (부석사 무량수전 측면 지붕부 결구의 구성방식에 관한 재고(再考) - 중국 원대(元代) 이전 목조건축과의 비교를 중심으로 -)

  • Cha, Ju-hwan
    • Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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    • v.49 no.3
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    • pp.78-103
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    • 2016
  • This research is a study on the side framework structure of the hipped and gable roof of Muryangsujeon at Buseoksa Temple. There is a record that Muryangsujeon was deconstructed and repaired in the period of Japanese Occupancy, and its authenticity has continuously been called into question because the structure of the hipped and gable side roofs, and the bonding of the rafters and eaves were not in good order and very different from those of Joseon Dynasty. Scholars date it differently. It is either dated at 13th century or 12th century. This study compares the non-planar configuration of the middle and front proportions of Muryangsujeon's hipped-and-gable-roof framework with those of the Tang(唐) and Song(宋) Dynasties in China. It concludes that the hipped-and-gable-roof framework of those architecture were built with the same technique. The style of architecture that side rafters directly touch the internal security (梁), like in Muryangsujeon, is not usual even among the hipped and garble roofs of the Tang(唐) and Song(宋) Dynasties. The technique of constructing the hipped roofs developed much further after the Tang Dynasty because they began to use garble eaves to build the side structure. The technique seems to have developed greatly by the period of Ming and Qing Dynasties. It also seems that the parallel-flat (平行輻射椽) rafter, which is the form of rafters used between the parallelrafter period and the half-flat-rafter period is very similar to the construction style of the current rafters of Muryangsujeon. However, the Muryangsujeon's eaves do not touch the corner rafter from the middle part. This seems to be a unique style, which is not common in China. In conclusion, the style of the side roof framework of Muryangsujeon at Buseoksa Temple is not of the China's southern regions, but of the northern regions of Tang(唐), Song(宋) and Liao(遼) Dynasties. And when considering the construction year and proportions of the middle front and side front on the same flat, this must be an ancient technique of the northeastern regions of Asia. Since it is likely that the structure of the side roof framework of Muryangsujeon at Buseoksa Temple has not been altered but is a unique style of hipped and gable roofs, this roof can serve as a good guide to restoring the hipped and garble roofs of the pre-Goyreo Dynasty period.

Analysis of Heating Energy in a Korean-Style Apartment Building 1: The Effect of Location (한국형 아파트의 난방에너지 분석 1: 위치의 영향)

  • 유호선;현석균;박유원;김용식;홍희기
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.101-110
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    • 2004
  • This paper presents an analysis of heating energy for apartment houses in a Korean-style apartment building, paying special attention on the effect of their location. Six representative locations encompass three floors and two placements on each floor. Two different roof types are also considered. In order to incorporate actual tenant's refit, a five-zone model composed of one conditioned and four unconditioned spaces is developed. TRNSYS 15 is adopted to estimate heating energy. The predicted results show fairly good agreements with the available measured data, validating the present model. Heating energy needed for an apartment located at the uppermost and lowermost floors is far greater compared with the case of intermediate floors. In addition, an appreciable difference is found between apartment with and without side end wall. Insulation thickness of walls, floors and underground structure appears to be a dominant factor affecting heating energy, which leads to needs of revision of the related regulation. Ridged-roofs instead of flat-roofs are highly recommended in apartment buildings for effective energy saving. It is finally concluded that the location-dependent, severe imbalance in heating energy should be improved and/or reflected in the policy making process and design standards.