The influence of wind direction on natural ventilation: application to a large semi-enclosed stadium

Natural ventilation is still a commonly applied way in building engineering to ensure a healthy and comfortable indoor climate. In this paper CFD simulations of the natural ventilation of a large semi-enclosed stadium in the Netherlands during the summer are described. Simulations are performed to assess the air exchange rate for a total of eight wind directions. The CFD model consists of both the complex stadium geometry and the urban environment in which the stadium is located. Validation of the CFD model is performed using full-scale 3D wind velocity measurements, furthermore, a grid sensitivity analysis is conducted. Comparison of the calculated air exchange rates showed that the wind direction has a significant effect on the air exchange rate; differences up to 100% were found for the air exchange rate, which can be explained by looking at the presence and size of the buildings that are situated upstream of the stadium