On generalized similarity laws for air physical modeling in the wind engineering field

The importance of local winds on plume behavior and in pollution studies is now well known. Furthermore it is recognized that physical modeling is a reliable technique for determination of local wind characteristics. The object of this paper is to describe a method for establishment of similarity criteria and similarity laws applicable to atmospheric flow modeling. The method includes an analysis of the nondimensional form of the differential equation system for atmospheric turbulent flow. The use of reference variables, in terms of turbulence characteristics, gives similarity criteria better adapted for atmospheric flow modeling. Similarity laws are developed by study of these criteria. Finally the relative significance of the criteria is established on the basis of physical and energy principles.