Consideration of wind barriers for an inner courtyard

This paper presents studies of wind screens as aids to reduce wind velocity in the inner courtyard (or patio area) at Faywood Hot Springs Resort, New Mexico. Available tools to consider the various options included both a 610 mm x 610 mm test section wind tunnel and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code (Star-CD). The approach taken was to compare CFD calculations with wind tunnel observations for a 1:93 scale model of the structure, and to determine what wind tunnel speed would be meaningful insofar as interior courtyard wind speed reduction was concerned. Once a correspondence between CFD results and wind tunnel results was obtained, then both of these tools could be engaged to consider the effect of various wind barrier designs. Finally, in consideration of both aesthetics and economics, a recommendation can be made for the 'best barrier' in terms of mean velocity reduction in the courtyard area.