Seminar - Matt Mason - CFD modelling of thunderstorm outflows

Wednesday, May 17, 2006, 1.10 - 1.50 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Theatre 3

Abstract
Thunderstorm outflows are important for design engineers as they produce the design wind speeds for mid to high return periods in many regions of Australia (including Sydney) and many locations around the world. In structural design codes (e.g. AS/NZS1170.02-02) an atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is assumed, with a vertical profiles interpolated from recorded 10 m wind speeds. The ABL assumption is however inaccurate when considering the complex structure of a thunderstorm outflow, and its effects on engineered structures. Several researchers have shown that an impinging air jet, and its ensuing wall bounded vertical profile is possibly a better representation of this type of event.

This talk will discuss the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a tool for modelling the hypothesized impinging air jet as a theorised thunderstorm outflow. Only being about 1 year into my PhD research this talk will introduce the topic, present some preliminary findings, and discuss problems encountered thus far. I will also discuss what I hope to achieve by the time this research project is over.