A numerical study on pedestrian-level wind environment of courtyards with irregular boundary buildings in cold climate region

Due to its ability to block airflow, the enclosed courtyard is an effective means of enhancing outdoor thermal comfort in cold regions. However, the impact of irregular courtyard boundaries, particularly those with tall buildings, on wind protection within the courtyard remains insufficiently studied. This paper took Reykjavik, Iceland, as the study area and utilized ENVI-met software to conduct numerical simulations of courtyards with fifteen different configurations under multiple wind directions. The influence of irregular courtyard boundaries on the pedestrian-level wind environment (PLWE) was explored. Overall, due to the unique spatial morphology of courtyards, irregular surrounding buildings, even tall ones, are unlikely to deteriorate the PLWE within the courtyard. The results also indicated that the spatial morphology of the boundary was a critical aspect affecting the courtyard PLWE. Multiple factors collectively influenced the PLWE, including the angle between buildings and wind, the morphology of tall buildings, the positional relationship between tall buildings and podiums, the relative positions of tall buildings, and the degree of enclosure of the courtyard. Some design suggestions were given based on the research outcomes. This study provides theoretical references for wind protection design in courtyards and enriches the theory of climate-adaptive urban development in cold areas.