Simulation of Wind Pressure Distribution on a Signboard with Various Inclination Angles

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of inclination angle on pressure distribution around a flat rectangular signboard subjected to laminar, steady-state external flow using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Simulations were conducted at three angles: 90°, 60°, and 30°, with a uniform inlet velocity of 0.001 m/s, air density of 1.225 kg/m³, and dynamic viscosity of 1.7894×10⁻⁵ Pa·s. A structured hexahedral mesh was employed, and grid independence was confirmed using three mesh sizes, where the fine mesh with 390,121 elements yielded the most accurate results, capturing a maximum pressure of 7.193×10⁻⁶ Pa at the stagnation zone. Velocity contours revealed that the 90° configuration produced strong stagnation and a broad wake, while the 30° case exhibited streamlined flow with minimal separation. Pressure distribution analysis showed a clear reduction in peak pressure and wake intensity with decreasing angle, from 7.193×10⁻⁶ Pa at 90° to 3.953×10⁻⁶ Pa at 30°. Streamline plots confirmed enhanced flow attachment and reduced recirculation at lower angles. These findings demonstrate that inclination significantly influences aerodynamic loading, with lower angles promoting smoother pressure recovery and reduced structural stress. The results align with published literature and provide design insights for optimizing signboard orientation in low-wind environments.