Title: Flow visualisation and tracer dispersion experiments at street canyon intersections

Authors: A. Scaperdas, A.G. Robins, R.N. Colville

Addresses: Air Pollution Group, T.H. Huxley School, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BP, UK. Enflo, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK. Air Pollution Group, T.H. Huxley School, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, SW7 2BP, UK

Abstract: This paper summarises results from a series of wind-tunnel experiments on the flow and dispersion behaviour at an idealised intersection of four long street canyons, formed by a group of four rectangular buildings. Flow visualisation was used to explore the range of possible flow and dispersion patterns associated with various plan arrangements of the four buildings, and tracer dispersion experiments were then conducted for selected cases to measure dispersion quantitatively. It was found that flow and dispersion patterns can be very sensitive to small changes in the arrangement of the buildings and the incident wind direction, θ. They are also strongly influenced by differences in the heights of individual buildings and the presence of other nearby intersections. The complete set of experimental data is available on request.

Keywords: dispersion modelling; intersections; street canyon; urban air pollution; urban junctions; wind-tunnel.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2000.000576

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2000 Vol.14 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.526-537

Published online: 18 Jul 2003 *

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