Interference effect of buildings on high rise power station chimney subjected to wind: a numerical modelling approach

It is very crucial to investigate the interference effects of different surrounding structures on tall buildings, which is very typical to be performed experimentally. Hence, the impact of wind loads due to cyclones, hurricanes, storms, and tornadoes exert diverse wind lateral loads on tall buildings with and without surrounding structures. The present investigation aimed to providing a better understanding of the interference effect on Panipat Thermal Power Station chimney, India. This study utilizes CFD simulation with ANSYS-ICM and Fluent on a chimney model using the realizable k − ε (turbulence kinetic energy-turbulence dissipation rate) turbulence model to simulate the wind load effect. The velocity magnitude profile and static pressure was used as inlet and outlet boundary condition, respectively. It was observed that the value of pressure coefficient and wind pressure varies in the range of 0.842–0.36 and 153.81–66.24 Pa on windward face, respectively. While on the leeward face, the value of pressure coefficient and wind pressure varies in the range − 0.00257 to − 0.485 and − 22 to − 63.3 Pa describing that the suction region and vortex generated around the surface of isolated chimney. However, the similar profile of negative wind pressure and pressure coefficient contour distribution was observed on the across-wind sides of the isolated chimney. Due to interference of surrounding buildings, approximately 8% and 9% reduction in maximum pressure coefficient and wind pressure on the windward face of the chimney was observed. Moreover, the pressure coefficients and pressure were switching from positive to negative up due to interfering building resulting in complicated formation of vortex on windward and leeward side. The velocity vector and velocity streamline illustrated that the stagnation line and standing vortex has been generated on the windward side of the buildings. The scattering and recirculation were also occurred on the wind word and leeward face of chimney resulting in the formation of vortices leads to the suction by the interference effect.