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Numerical Simulation of Multi-Span Greenhouse Structures

Author

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  • María S. Fernández-García

    (Department of Forest and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agricultural Engineering, University of Extremadura, Av. Adolfo Suarez s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain)

  • Pablo Vidal-López

    (Department of Forest and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agricultural Engineering, University of Extremadura, Av. Adolfo Suarez s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain)

  • Desirée Rodríguez-Robles

    (Department of Forest and Agricultural Engineering, School of Agricultural Engineering, University of Extremadura, Av. Adolfo Suarez s/n, 06071 Badajoz, Spain)

  • José R. Villar-García

    (Department of Forest and Agricultural Engineering, Universitary Center of Plasencia, University of Extremadura, Av. Virgen del Puerto 2, 10600 Plasencia, Spain)

  • Rafael Agujetas

    (Department of Mechanical, Energy and Materials Engineering, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain)

Abstract

Greenhouses had to be designed to sustain permanent maintenance and crop loads as well as the site-specific climatic conditions, with wind being the most damaging. However, both the structure and foundation are regularly empirically calculated, which could lead to structural inadequacies or cost ineffectiveness. Thus, in this paper, the structural assessment of a multi-tunnel greenhouse was carried out. Firstly, wind loads were assessed through computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Then, the buckling failure mode when either the European Standard (EN) or the CFD wind loads were contemplated was assessed by a finite element method (FEM). Conversely to the EN 13031-1, CFD wind loads generated a suction in the 0–55° region of the first tunnel and a 60% reduction of the external pressure coefficients in the third tunnel was not detected. Moreover, the first-order buckling eigenvalues were reduced (32–57%), which resulted in the need for a different calculation method (i.e., elastoplastic analysis), and global buckling modes similar to local buckling shape were detected. Finally, the foundation was studied by the FEM and a matrix method based on the Wrinkler model. The stresses and deformations arising from the proposed matrix method were conservative compared to those obtained by the FEM.

Suggested Citation

  • María S. Fernández-García & Pablo Vidal-López & Desirée Rodríguez-Robles & José R. Villar-García & Rafael Agujetas, 2020. "Numerical Simulation of Multi-Span Greenhouse Structures," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-31, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:10:y:2020:i:11:p:499-:d:434476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nebbali, R. & Roy, J.C. & Boulard, T., 2012. "Dynamic simulation of the distributed radiative and convective climate within a cropped greenhouse," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 111-129.
    2. Chen, Jiaoliao & Xu, Fang & Tan, Dapeng & Shen, Zheng & Zhang, Libin & Ai, Qinglin, 2015. "A control method for agricultural greenhouses heating based on computational fluid dynamics and energy prediction model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 106-118.
    3. Chrysanthos Maraveas, 2020. "Wind Pressure Coefficients on Greenhouse Structures," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
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