Numerical evaluation of pedestrian wind environment using threshold exceedance probability approach

Both large scale constructions and dense building groups will change their ambient wind environment, which may also be accompanied by pedestrian wind comfort problems. Firstly, the approach of threshold exceedance probability to evaluate pedestrian wind environment is introduced, and a criterion that takes into account both mean and gust wind effects on people is proposed. Secondly, parameters of statistical wind meteorological data were estimated to investigate wind environment problems emerged from a semi-open type large-span building. Thirdly, the aerodynamic characteristics at pedestrian level are obtained using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation. Finally, the map of wind discomfort threshold exceedance probabilities for full directions is presented, and the pedestrian wind environment is evaluated. The results indicate that the present approach could give a detailed evaluation of pedestrian wind comfort and danger for complicated buildings.