Interference effect of photovoltaic solar arrays on wind load of building roof by large eddy simulations

S. F. Dai; H. J. Liu; H. F. Lam; H. Y. Peng

doi:10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120453

Interference effect of photovoltaic solar arrays on wind load of building roof by large eddy simulations

S. F. Dai
, H. J. Liu
, H. F. Lam
, H. Y. Peng^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The interference effect of rooftop photovoltaic arrays on wind loads on the roof was investigated at various wind directions θ using large eddy simulation (LES). The interference factor IF¯_b of the mean wind pressure coefficients C¯_pr on the structure with PV arrays depended on θ and roof locations. IF¯_b on the structure at oblique θ was more significant than those at normal θ. The large negative C¯_pr on the windward corner of the bare roof at θ = 45° changed to small positive values when PV arrays were installed. This is attributed to that the conical vortices were greatly disrupted by PV arrays. C¯_pr on the forehead corner of the roof with PV arrays were small compared with those on the bare roof at θ = 45°. The presence of PV arrays elevated the flow, inducing the thick boundary layer above the roof with PV arrays, which contributed to the sheltering effect. C¯_pr on the structure with PV arrays at θ = 45° was −1.84, approximately 23 % larger than the value by the JGJ/T 481–2019 code. Roof zoning of IF¯_b was studied, providing guidance for assessing the structural safety of buildings with the installation of PV arrays. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Original language	English
Article number	120453
Journal	Engineering Structures
Volume	336
Online published	28 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120453
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2025

Funding

This work was supported by Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (JCYJ20241202123537012), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2024A1515012266, 2023A1515240068), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52378500), Open Project Program of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent and Resilient Structures for Civil Engineering, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent and Resilient Structures for Civil Engineering (2023B1212010004).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Research Keywords

Interference effect of PV arrays
LES
Roof zoning of interference factors
Wind loads on roof

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10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120453

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title = "Interference effect of photovoltaic solar arrays on wind load of building roof by large eddy simulations",

abstract = "The interference effect of rooftop photovoltaic arrays on wind loads on the roof was investigated at various wind directions θ using large eddy simulation (LES). The interference factor IF¯b of the mean wind pressure coefficients C¯pr on the structure with PV arrays depended on θ and roof locations. IF¯b on the structure at oblique θ was more significant than those at normal θ. The large negative C¯pr on the windward corner of the bare roof at θ = 45° changed to small positive values when PV arrays were installed. This is attributed to that the conical vortices were greatly disrupted by PV arrays. C¯pr on the forehead corner of the roof with PV arrays were small compared with those on the bare roof at θ = 45°. The presence of PV arrays elevated the flow, inducing the thick boundary layer above the roof with PV arrays, which contributed to the sheltering effect. C¯pr on the structure with PV arrays at θ = 45° was −1.84, approximately 23 \% larger than the value by the JGJ/T 481–2019 code. Roof zoning of IF¯b was studied, providing guidance for assessing the structural safety of buildings with the installation of PV arrays. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd",

keywords = "Interference effect of PV arrays, LES, Roof zoning of interference factors, Wind loads on roof",

author = "Dai, \{S. F.\} and Liu, \{H. J.\} and Lam, \{H. F.\} and Peng, \{H. Y.\}",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120453",

language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Interference effect of photovoltaic solar arrays on wind load of building roof by large eddy simulations

AU - Dai, S. F.

AU - Liu, H. J.

AU - Lam, H. F.

AU - Peng, H. Y.

PY - 2025/8/1

Y1 - 2025/8/1

N2 - The interference effect of rooftop photovoltaic arrays on wind loads on the roof was investigated at various wind directions θ using large eddy simulation (LES). The interference factor IF¯b of the mean wind pressure coefficients C¯pr on the structure with PV arrays depended on θ and roof locations. IF¯b on the structure at oblique θ was more significant than those at normal θ. The large negative C¯pr on the windward corner of the bare roof at θ = 45° changed to small positive values when PV arrays were installed. This is attributed to that the conical vortices were greatly disrupted by PV arrays. C¯pr on the forehead corner of the roof with PV arrays were small compared with those on the bare roof at θ = 45°. The presence of PV arrays elevated the flow, inducing the thick boundary layer above the roof with PV arrays, which contributed to the sheltering effect. C¯pr on the structure with PV arrays at θ = 45° was −1.84, approximately 23 % larger than the value by the JGJ/T 481–2019 code. Roof zoning of IF¯b was studied, providing guidance for assessing the structural safety of buildings with the installation of PV arrays. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

AB - The interference effect of rooftop photovoltaic arrays on wind loads on the roof was investigated at various wind directions θ using large eddy simulation (LES). The interference factor IF¯b of the mean wind pressure coefficients C¯pr on the structure with PV arrays depended on θ and roof locations. IF¯b on the structure at oblique θ was more significant than those at normal θ. The large negative C¯pr on the windward corner of the bare roof at θ = 45° changed to small positive values when PV arrays were installed. This is attributed to that the conical vortices were greatly disrupted by PV arrays. C¯pr on the forehead corner of the roof with PV arrays were small compared with those on the bare roof at θ = 45°. The presence of PV arrays elevated the flow, inducing the thick boundary layer above the roof with PV arrays, which contributed to the sheltering effect. C¯pr on the structure with PV arrays at θ = 45° was −1.84, approximately 23 % larger than the value by the JGJ/T 481–2019 code. Roof zoning of IF¯b was studied, providing guidance for assessing the structural safety of buildings with the installation of PV arrays. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

KW - Interference effect of PV arrays

KW - LES

KW - Roof zoning of interference factors

KW - Wind loads on roof

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105003764411&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120453

DO - 10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120453

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0141-0296

VL - 336

JO - Engineering Structures

JF - Engineering Structures

M1 - 120453

ER -

Interference effect of photovoltaic solar arrays on wind load of building roof by large eddy simulations

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