STADIUM DESIGN FOR HOT CLIMATES: VALIDATING CFD MODEL OF WIND SCOUR WITH PARTICLE IMAGE VELOCIMETRY

To achieve spectator comfort and player safety during sporting events in extremely hot climates, event venues should be designed to achieve cooler, more comfortable conditions than the external environment. In an enclosed space, mechanical cooling and high-performance facades can achieve such comfort requirements. However, when the event requires an open roof, scouring of cool air by the wind results in a reduction in cooling performance, and may create areas of the crowd and field of play which are unacceptably hot. The aerodynamic behaviour of the stadium roof is, therefore, a critical design consideration in ensuring acceptable performance. CFD simulations may be used during the design process to predict the performance of different roof design concepts. In combination with data on solar radiation and long-wave thermal radiation from surrounding surfaces, a comprehensive assessment of thermal comfort and heat stress risk may be determined. However, validation of the CFD predictions against experimental data is essential in establishing confidence in this approach. This paper presents the results of a comparison between wind tunnel data acquired with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and CFD simulations of an open-roof stadium with a saddle-shaped roof.