Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of a Square Cylinder with Multi-Parameter Corner Recession Modifications

Corner modifications can reduce wind loads acting on supertall buildings and modify the corresponding flow structures. The present study investigated the aerodynamic shape optimization of the corner recession square cylinders with multiple geometric parameters in a large design space via the GA-GRNN surrogate model updating-based multi-objective optimization framework. Six typical optimal aerodynamic shape sections M1 similar to M6 were selected from the Pareto optimal front, and the effects of multiple geometric parameters of these sections on the aerodynamic performance and flow field were analyzed. The results showed that the present multi-objective optimization framework can significantly reduce the computational load and time cost, and significantly improve the optimization efficiency in solving complex engineering problems. The optimal corner recession sections can obviously reduce the mean drag coefficient C-D and root mean square lift coefficient C-sigma L while significantly increasing the Strouhal number St of the square cylinder, and it is concluded that the aerodynamic shape optimization can significantly improve the aerodynamic performance of square-sectional supertall buildings. When compared with the benchmark section, the C-D and C-sigma L of the optimal section M1 can be reduced up to 45.7% and 84.5%, respectively. Based on the analysis of the flow structures around the optimal sections, the flow mechanism can be attributed to the fact that the corner recession modifications postpone the flow separation, and deflect the separated shear layer towards the side surfaces and suppress the development of vortex shedding in the wake, which leads to significant elongation of the wake length and reduction of the width of the recirculation region. The proposed multi-objective optimization framework in this study can provide an important reference for the aerodynamic shape optimization of building structures and relevant studies.

Automated summary

This study investigates the aerodynamic shape optimization of corner recession square cylinders to reduce wind loads on supertall buildings. By using a multi-objective optimization framework, the effects of various geometric parameters on the aerodynamic performance and flow field were analyzed. The results show that optimizing the corner recession shape can significantly improve the aerodynamic performance of supertall buildings.