Experimental and CFD Investigation of Wind-Induced Pressures on an 8° Gable Roof with Different Roof Opening Configurations
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Abstract
The research aims at studying the wind-induced pressure on an 8° low-slope gable roof by means of wind tunnel tests and ANSYS Fluent simulation analysis. Direct pressure measurements were obtained from the experimental tests, and the resulting pressure distribution and aerodynamic flow were interpreted by the numerical model. The four roof configurations examined were a closed roof, a single opening, two openings and four openings. These cases were then tested experimentally under the same conditions in an open-circuit wind tunnel at the College of Engineering at the University of Baghdad with a fixed wind velocity of 38 m/s. Pressure coefficients were calculated from the pressure taps located over the windward wall, leeward wall and the gable roof surfaces. A steady, incompressible RANS formulation numerical model was then constructed in ANSYS Fluent 2025 R1 with the standard k–ε turbulence model. Increasing the number of openings on the roof resulted in improved interaction between the external separated flow and the internal air volume, and resulted in a noticeable redistribution of the pressure over the roof surface. The CFD results were compared with the experimental measurements, and the results were very good, with a high , an and a . Based on the results, it can be concluded that the openings of a roof can have a significant impact on the aerodynamic pressure response of low-rise gable roofs and that the openings should be taken into account when assessing roof pressures due to wind.
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