The Impact of Buildings' Characteristics on Airflow Patterns and Bed Morphology at Beaches, Using CFD Modelling

Abstract

During the last century rapid urbanization of coastal zones has been widespread all over the world. This highly increasing population in coastal zones leads to the construction of restaurants, sailing clubs, beach houses and pavilions at the beach-dune interface. Structures located adjacent to dunefields change the local airflow patterns which, in turn, alter sediment transport pathways and influence the aeolian landforms [Jackson and Nordstrom, 2011]. In this paper, firstly the impacts of buildings' characteristics on airflow patterns are investigated, specifically the impacts of building length, width and height. Secondly, the near-bed horizontal divergence of the velocity field is calculated for one case to infer resulting erosion and deposition patterns around the building. For all these purposes, a numerical model is developed.Recorded Presentation from the vICCE (YouTube Link): https://youtu.be/LNf-_Izu6Wk