We address the model-adaptive coupling between computational codes for indoor thermal comfort analysis considering different levels of detail in space and time. Starting with a whole-year simulation, significant periods are interactively identified in terms of a coarse thermal comfort analysis. After refining these critical intervals with respect to the spatial resolution, a multi-segment manikin model interfacing with the human thermoregulation model of Fiala (Int J Biometeorol, 45:143–159, 2001) is applied for studying transient and local effects of thermal sensation. On a coarse level (pre-calculated view factors and heat transfer coefficients), parameters like the boundary conditions or the type of clothing can be modified online, results are updated in real time (computational steering). On a fine level, the thermoregulation model is linked with a geometry based zone model using a ray tracing method capturing the short wave radiation incident to the manikin surface and a radiosity solver for the longwave radiation. Ongoing developments concern a full coupling between the radiation solver and an interactive lattice Boltzmann type CFD solver by further enhancing the performance of the view factor computation.

The utilization and maintenance is a determining ecological and economical factor in the life cycle of buildings, compared to the construction and decon- struction phases. To estimate and to further reduce this requirement of resources at the Munich Institu te for Computational Civil and Environmental Engi- neering software tools have been developed in coop- eration with the German consulting and engineering company COPLAN AG. The purpose is to automate and to accelerate the creation of numerical models for a life cycle analysis and for estimating constructi on and maintenance costs using a product model based approach.

The paper addresses the current state of the development of a computational steering environment (CSE) for interactive indoor thermal comfort simulation by utilizing high-performance supercomputing facilities. The CSE consists of a parallel CFD kernel, a fast spacetree-based 3D mesh generator and an integrated virtual reality-based visualization engine. The numerical method is based on a hybrid thermal lattice Boltzmann (LB) method with extensions for large eddy simulations of turbulent convective ∞ows. We use a multiple- relaxation-time LB scheme for solving the mass and momentum equations numerically and a flnite difierence scheme for the heat equation. The CSE allows for modifying both the geometric model and the boundary conditions during runtime with immediate visualization of changes in the results. The application is demonstrated by two industrial applications with complex geometries, turbulent natural convection in the separator room of a ferry boat and turbulent convection in a train's passenger carriage. We currently enhance our model using a radiosity method with a fast spacetree-based visibility check and integrate a new local thermal comfort model developed by our partners.

The paper addresses the current state of the development of a computational steering environment (CSE) for interactive indoor thermal comfort simulation by utilizing high-performance supercomputing facilities. The CSE consists of a parallel CFD kernel, a fast spacetree-based 3D mesh generator and an integrated virtual reality-based visualization engine. The numerical method is based on a hybrid thermal lattice Boltzmann (LB) method with extensions for large eddy simulations of turbulent convective ∞ows. We use a multiple- relaxation-time LB scheme for solving the mass and momentum equations numerically and a flnite difierence scheme for the heat equation. The CSE allows for modifying both the geometric model and the boundary conditions during runtime with immediate visualization of changes in the results. The application is demonstrated by two industrial applications with complex geometries, turbulent natural convection in the separator room of a ferry boat and turbulent convection in a train's passenger carriage. We currently enhance our model using a radiosity method with a fast spacetree-based visibility check and integrate a new local thermal comfort model developed by our partners.