Aerodynamics of Antarctic Architecture 2026 Antarctic Futures Symposium The Andromeda Earth Observatory: A Research Platform for the 22nd Century 23, 24 April 2026, Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce - Kirchberg, Luxembourg Jeroen van Beeck, Dean of faculty of fluid dynamics
founded Training Center in Experimental Aerodynamics experiment in international education for citizens of NATO countries Belgian Aerodynamics Laboratory (1922) VON KARMAN INSTITUTE FOR FLUID DYNAMICS - MISSION Sint-Genesius-Rode, Belgium – Strengthen research links at international level – Advance Science & Peace – 1963 – Renamed VON KARMAN INSTITUTE – 2010 – Registered as Higher Educational Institution with Erasmus Charter
Students from funding countries can participate without fee and with fellowship to • VKI research master programme • VKI short training programme • VKI PhD Programme, in collaboration with universities Ø Welcoming new countries in VKI funding scheme Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Portugal France Romania Turkey United States 16 NATO COUNTRIES SUPPORT VKI EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
in numbers 2000+ 22 48 § 48 facilities 3 world unique Mach 30 10000 K § 22 nations melting pot for research & education § alumni network for international development 200 staff members § 300 students & visiting scientists ~300
structures: wind follows building shape No snow on PEA but risk for high wind forces on building and people + snow on garage Snow accumulation protects garage during winter storms
are sandstorms are aerodynamically similar King Philippe of Belgium in aeronautical test section propellers diffuser motor contraction Environmental test section 250 km/hr
accumulation drove concept phase PEA • Cover model by 2mm layer of sand, • Increase each minute wind tunnel reference velocity with 0.5 m/s, • Compare pictures to building-free test. Reference Anemometer Camera START TEST END TEST
Dune Formation PEA – concept phase • Wind speed-up -> snow erosion • Wind deceleration -> snow deposition Building aligned with wind Building not aligned with wind
= Snow Deposition RED = Snow Erosion PEA BUILDING INTEGRATION IN ENVIRONMENT Rising building decreases snow deposition Shifting building backwards increases snow deposition Reducing clearance increases snow deposition
is more important if building is not on pillars wind aligned with long building axis ! Location of solar panels and wind turbines ? snow falls of cliff ?
forecasting of extreme weather events Towards a more efficient exploitation of on-shore & urban wind energy resources The offshore wind beneath the wings of young researchers, turning the blades of the Belgian offshore wind sector Realistic CFD wind load computations for offshore wind turbines Optimized prediction & decision support for rain erosion & lightning-driven degradation of blades Wind-wave misalignment effect on offshore wind energy harvesting
wind turbine damage gear box failure Blade tip struck by lightning Rain-Eroded blade Critical questions: • when to stop the turbines to extend their lifetime ? • how much energy will be harvested next week ?
winds are abnormal due to thermal effects Wind Veer wind direction change with height Low-Level Jets wind speed changes with height anemometer mast FINO1 West-hinder VKI LIDAR
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS WRF wind field around wind farms Validation by Sentinel-1 satellite image VKI WIND TEAM 25 researchers and students • Open-source code Weather Research & Forecasting used by 100000+ researchers • WRF can zoom on any place on a planet and tuned by local LIDARS ERA-5 ECMWF Precision weather forecasting
Aerodynamic building on pillars: • No snow accumulation on building Buildings without pillars • Aerodynamic integration in environment Wind and solar energy are new oil : also on Antarctica…. Ø weather forecasting is new gold
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