CFD modeling of snowdrift around a building: An overview of models and evaluation of a new approach

The first part of this paper provides an overview of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of snowdrift around a building by reviewing previous research including the authors’ in order to clarify its applicability and limitations. It is clarified that a quantitative validation study in particular by predicting snow depth distribution near a building is not enough, even though many models have been proposed. The latter part presents the results of CFD prediction of snowdrift around a cubic building model using a new approach of a snowdrift model based on experimental and numerical studies by the authors. The numerical results are compared with data obtained from detailed field measurements and previous CFD in order to confirm the accuracy of the new model. This new approach shows good correspondence with results obtained from field measurements and wind tunnel experiments in terms of not only snowdrift patterns but also quantitative distribution of snow depth.