Description

There currently exist a Dutch norm for comfort and safety of pedestrians in urban areas. Each building that is constructed in a city is analyzed with computational fluid dynamics simulations and KNMI wind data to determine the wind direction and magnitudes in the surrounding urban spaces. If the wind speed exceeds the comfort or safety thresholds the building location and or design is modified to lower the wind speed in the areas. This internship would help create thresholds for bicyclists in urban areas. The general approach would be to apply wind force magnitudes and directions to the bicycle-rider balance and control models developed by the Bicycle Lab to determine what wind magnitude force and direction cause departure from a bicycle lane or cause falls. The results of the internship will be included in the next norm on wind force limits in urban environments.

Example of wind magnitude around buildings in an urban environment.

Example of the bicycle-rider being hit by side forces.