Architectural Knitted Windbreaks for Improved Wind Comfort in the City: A Wind Tunnel Study of Custom-Designed Porous Textile Screens

There is a need to shield from the wind improve pedestrian comfort in urban environments. Perforated windbreaks, such as fences, vegetation or textile nets, have proven be an efficient solution, whereas knitted textiles not yet been explored. The purpose of this study was evaluate capacity windbreaks reduce velocities, inform further research and promote wider architectural applications. Five custom-knitted prototypes, representing fragments were tested tunnel compared against perforated nonperforated solid board. Forces on models, well upstream downstream measured. results indicate that optimal optical porosity should around 10%, which differs for recommended by prior studies. Moreover, it observed windbreak using drop-stitch technique efficiently reduces wind, while generating large drag force. Furthermore, coefficient reduced with increased windspeed. With this, presented demonstrates structures exposed influence functional potential becoming thus improving aesthetic user experience space.