Accessing the Stack Effect in High-Rise Buildings by the Probability Method Based on Climate Demarcation: A Case Study in China

Abstract

The stack effect in super high-rise buildings is mainly influenced by the temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor environments, wind pressure, building height, and the airtightness of building components. Consequently, the intensity and frequency of the stack effect are inherently impacted by regional and seasonal climate conditions. This study initially examines two critical meteorological elements - temperature and wind speed - that are closely related to the stack effect in high-rise buildings. Then the appropriate climate demarcation for evaluating the stack effect in high-rise buildings, which is based on the building climate demarcation in China is investigated, and the land area of China is divided into four climate regions for the purpose of stack effect assessment. Utilizing annual meteorological monitoring data from each region, the probability function models for temperature and wind speed are developed, and a joint probability distribution function for temperature and wind speed in each region is derived using a binary copula function. Finally, the probabilistic assessment of the stack effect under both pure and combined thermal pressures across different climatic zones is numerically investigated by employing a standardized high-rise building model. This research enables a refined assessment of the stack effect for high-rise building, and provides a useful reference to improve the design codes in future.

Keywords: super high-rise buildings, stack effect, building climate demarcation, exceeding probability assessment, numerical simulation