Model Formulation of an Urban Canopy Model by Means of Detailed CFD Simulation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Urban areas significantly influence atmospheric flow fields and momentum exchange processes, which are relevant for wind energy applications and meso-scale atmospheric modeling. However, meso-scale simulations typically represent urban effects using surface roughness parameterizations that neglect volumetric momentum losses within the urban canopy layer. In this study, a methodology is presented to derive a volumetric urban canopy parameterization directly from building-resolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. A detailed micro-scale CFD simulation of a real urban region is used to evaluate the momentum balance within a control volume surrounding the urban region. Based on this analysis, two key parameters are derived: the vertical distribution of the House Area Density (HAD), representing the geometric characteristics of the urban morphology, and an effective drag coefficient describing the momentum loss induced by the built environment. These parameters are subsequently implemented as volumetric source terms in a urban canopy model formulated analogously to plant canopy parameterizations. The resulting urban canopy model is validated by comparison with the fully resolved CFD simulation. The results show good agreement in the streamwise momentum balance and pressure loss distribution, while computational cost is significantly reduced. The proposed urban canopy model provides a physically consistent framework for representing urban momentum sinks in meso-scale flow simulations.
Source: Computation
Authors: Michael Vögtle, Rainer Stauch, Hermann Knaus
Institution: Esslingen University of Applied Sciences
Language: English
Topic: Wind and Air Flow Studies
Subfield: Environmental Engineering
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W7161999468
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