Ten questions concerning hybrid computational/physical model simulation of wind flow in the built environment

• CFD and EFD can play a synergistic and supportive role in wind engineering.
• Combining CFD and EFD strategies requires deliberation and intention before implementation.
• Proper CFD/EFD strategies can result in improved design, cost savings, and reduction in total project time.

For over fifty years the common presumption has been that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental fluid dynamics (EFD) were mutually exclusive and competitive. Often the question was posed: When can we get rid of our physical modeling facilities? This question does not recognize the tremendous synergistic leverage of combining the best qualities of both CFD and EFD as a research and design methodology. Coordinating the application of both CFD and EFD in a hybrid management approach can expedite results, improve understanding of flow phenomena, and often reduce research costs and time. This paper considers some of the common questions that arise as one considers hybrid research or design methods as it is applied to wind engineering and the built environment.