SPORT STADIUM AERODYNAMICS

Bert Blocken, PhD - Unit Building Physics and Services - Department of the Built Environment
Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands

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New large sports stadia are often multifunctional buildings - apart from sports purposes, they are also used for concerts and other events with large spectator attendance. Regardless of whether the stadium can be closed or not, spectator comfort, thermal comfort and shelter from wind and rain, should be ensured.

R
esearch efforts on sport stadium aerodynamics included/includes the following aspects:
 

1. Pedestrian wind comfort around sport stadia

Blocken B, Persoon J. 2009.
Pedestrian wind comfort around a large football stadium in an urban environment: CFD simulation, validation and application of the new Dutch wind nuisance standard. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 97(5-6): 255-270. (preprint: ) doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2009.06.007


2. Heating, ventilation and airconditioning in stadia - thermal comfort


van Hooff T, Blocken B, 2010.
Coupled urban wind flow and indoor natural ventilation modelling on a high-resolution grid: a case study for the Amsterdam ArenA    stadium. Environmental Modelling & Software 25(1): 51-65. (preprint: ) doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2009.07.008 

van Hooff T, Blocken B, 2010. On the effect of wind direction and urban surroundings on natural ventilation of a large semi-enclosed stadium. Computers & Fluids. In press. (preprint: ) doi:10.1016/j.compfluid.2010.02.004 
 

3. Wind-driven rain in stadia

Persoon J, van Hooff T, Blocken B, Carmeliet J, de Wit MH. 2008. Impact of roof geometry on rain shelter in football stadia.
Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 96(8-9): 1274-1293. (preprint: ) doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2008.02.036]

 

A few examples of previous studies are given below - mainly in graphical format. Additional information can be found in the publications or can be obtained upon request. 

 


Amsterdam ArenA stadium - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

van Hooff T, Blocken B, 2010. Coupled urban wind flow and indoor natural ventilation modelling on a high-resolution grid: a case study for the Amsterdam ArenA    stadium. Environmental Modelling & Software 25(1): 51-65. (preprint: ) doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2009.07.008 

van Hooff T, Blocken B, 2010. On the effect of wind direction and urban surroundings on natural ventilation of a large semi-enclosed stadium. Computers & Fluids. In press. (preprint: ) doi:10.1016/j.compfluid.2010.02.004 

 

Amsterdam ArenA football stadium, view from ABN-Amro tower. The stadium roof is open in this picture.


 


 

Stadium interior - location of two of the measurement positions for air speed, air temperature and relative humidity.

 



 

Measurements made around and inside the stadium.


 


 

Computational grid of stadium and surroundings, based on grid-sensitivity analysis. This grid was specially made for analysis of stadium ventilation strategies - therefore grid resolution is highest inside and in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. For more information, see .


 


 

Detail of computational grid. For more information, see .


 




 
Velocity vectors in a vertical plane - illustrating downflow along the stadium facade. For more information, see .


 


 

Air temperature distribution for natural ventilation study. For more information, see .

 


 

Rain shelter in football stadia

[Persoon J, van Hooff T, Blocken B, Carmeliet J, de Wit MH. 2008. Impact of roof geometry on rain shelter in football stadia. Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics 96(8-9): 1274-1293. (preprint: ) doi:10.1016/j.jweia.2008.02.036]

 

Generic stadium configuration (right) based on the AZ stadium (left) designed by Zwarts and Jansma Architects.


 


 

Visualisation of raindrop trajectories in a vertical plane through stadia with different types of roof geometry. Reference wind speed U10 = 10 m/s, raindrop diameter d = 5 mm. Rain shelter is strongly dependent on the roof type. The effect of roof geometry on rain shelter is stronger as would be calculated based on the simple trigonometric formula for wind-driven rain. For more information, see .

 

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