On Risk and Reliability Studies of Climate-Related Building Performance

Abstract

A design strategy based on integration of the building form and structure with its external environment in order to take advantage of natural forces (wind and buoyancy effects) has been evaluated in terms of risk and reliability measures. Tools for the probabilistic analysis (First-Order Reliability Method (FORM), Monte Carlo) have been presented and applied in the probabilistic modelling and sensitivity analysis of the response function of the studied building physics problem. Sensitivity analysis of the influence of basic random variables on the probability distribution of a response function is straightforward in FORM methodology. The case-based studies of probabilistic modelling of uncertainties coupled to wind speed and temperature difference through the specified building/environment system have been presented (i.e., the distribution models of the air change rate ACH and the dynamic U value characterising thermal performance of dynamic insulation). Sensitivities of the probability model of ACH to the parameters of wind speed and temperature distributions have been estimated for the consecutive values of the air change rate using FORM methodology. Reliability of ACH turned out to be most sensitive to the shape parameter of the wind speed distribution (in two-parameter Weibull model). The probabilistic risk analysis along with the effective tools for sensitivity analysis can be used to support design decisions and also to develop better models for evaluation of building performance.

Pedestrian Level Relationship between Building Forms and Streets Effects on the Condition of Comfort in Historical Context

“…By giving both the real wind flow velocity and the distribution of turbulence throughout the whole research area, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) overcomes the issue of producing and modifying air flow conditions experienced in a wind tunnel. Surface roughness modeling in an atmospheric boundary layer is included in the case study field of wind modeling, which also accounts for local meteorological period average data and regional topography characteristics [60][61][62].…”

Bioclimatic tools for sustainable design – uncertainty perspective

“…Climate: climate, local climate, microclimate (temperature, moisture content, wind speed, wind direction) in view of uncertainty (Pietrzyk & Czmoch 2018) Control: materials (strengths and vulnerabilities), components, structures form and orientation, technical systems, topography, urban design, wind/surface interaction etc. Comfort: uncertain adaptive comfort zones within enclosure extended by using passive or hybrid strategies of heating, cooling, and ventilating Architectural criteria include the site of the building (also in urban context), the local environment being the result of feedback loop between natural and man-made elements, and the building orientation, form, layout/volume, material (see Figure 1).…”

“…Hence, choosing a strategy based on integrating the building form and structure with its external environment to take advantage of natural forces (for wind induced ventilation, solar heating, etc.) is an example of design decisions leading towards mitigation of climate change (Pietrzyk & Czmoch 2018). It also promotes using affordable and clean energy (goal 7).…”

Analysis of Wind Speed and Wind Pressure on the Facades in Frequency Domain for the Modelling of Air Change Rate

“…It was first presented on the IEA Annex55 meetings and then published at the conferences in 2012/2013. The probabilistic risk analysis along with the effective tools for sensitivity analysis is proposed to be used to support design decisions and to develop better models for evaluation of building performance [10]. The work presented in actual paper concentrates on the possibility to consider the higher frequency of wind conditions in the air exchange model based on wind pressure measurements.…”