Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Indirect Green Façades on the Wind Environment

The wind barrier effect of indirect green façades (IGFs) is underexplored.

Using OpenFOAM, we developed a customized solver to model IGF vegetation as a porous medium and examine the effects of cavity depth and ambient wind speed on airflow around IGF-integrated buildings.

Results showed that IGFs significantly modify local wind conditions, with thicker cavities and higher wind speeds leading to greater wind speed reductions. The deceleration effect was most prominent on the leeward side. At 1 m/s ambient wind speed, the IGF had minimal deceleration effect and even increased wind speed in the side cavity.

This study provides valuable insights for optimizing IGF design in urban environments.