Paper
A Parametric Study of Gross Building Coverage Ratio (GBCR) Variation on Outdoor Ventilation in Singapore’s High-rise Residential Estates
- Authors:
- Rou-Xuan Lee; Nyuk-Hien Wong
- Abstract
- Gross Building Coverage Ratio (GBCR) is one of the urban morphological variables that have an effect on microclimate within the urban canopy level (UCL). It is usually defined as the ratio between gross ground floor area covered by all buildings to a given site area. The impact of different morphological scenarios for GBCR variation on external ventilation levels within a typical high-rise Housing and Development Board (HDB) residential estate (or precinct) in Singapore is analyzed through a parametric study exercise. This is done by utilizing three-dimensional numerical simulations with the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) Realizable k-ε turbulence model (RLZ) from the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code Star-CCM+. Wind tunnel tests were carried out in order to validate the simulation software’s accuracy before put in use for the parametric study. Both the study results agree reasonably well here. External ventilation levels are quantified using the area-averaged Wind Velocity Ratio (VR) index, an indication of the average outdoor ventilation potential within an estate at a certain level. Two types of common HDB block types in Singapore are examined – point and slab blocks in three types of configurations: (i) random, (ii) group and (iii) courtyard. Measurements are taken at both the pedestrian and mid-levels under different wind orientations. From the study results, consistent trends can be observed as using the same GBCR value produces different results of average outdoor wind speed within an estate or precinct, under different block types, wind orientations and configurations.
- Keywords
- Gross Building Coverage Ratio (GBCR); Morphological Variables; Wind Velocity Ratio (VR); Outdoor Ventilation; High-Rise Residential Estate; Parametric Study; Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- StartPage
- 92
- EndPage
- 116
- Doi