Research Article

Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent

Volume: 14 Number: 1 March 31, 2026
TR EN

Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent

Abstract

Passive design and natural ventilation strategies play an important role in reducing energy consumption and ensuring thermal comfort in buildings. The success of these strategies depends on the accurate analysis of climate data and its comprehensive integration into the design process. In this context, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are used to optimize complex aerodynamic and thermodynamic processes from the preliminary design stage onwards. Among these software, ANSYS Fluent stands out for its reliability and widespread use in academic literature. Existing review studies in the literature generally examine passive design strategies independently of analysis tools or consider multiple CFD software in a general framework. This study focuses only on research conducted using ANSYS Fluent. In this context, natural ventilation and passive cooling studies published in ANSYS Fluent between 2020 and 2025 were systematically compiled at the architectural scale. The purpose of this study is to reveal ventilation strategies across different building typologies, describe the CFD approaches applied, determine performance indicators, and systematically classify the resulting design outputs. Within the scope of the research, 23 international peer-reviewed articles selected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases were analyzed using a table prepared with parameters such as building typology, climate data, boundary conditions, and architectural design outputs. In conclusion, this research highlights the contributions of existing studies to architectural design by defining the role and limitations of Fluent-based CFD analyses in natural ventilation design. The findings indicate that these simulations provide a parametric, multi-scale decision-support framework for developing context-sensitive passive design strategies.

Keywords

References

  1. [1] Silver, P., & McLean, W. (2014). Mimarlık Teknolojisine Giriş. İstanbul: Yapı Endüstri Merkezi Yayınları.
  2. [2] Yeang, K. (2006). Eko Tasarım “Ekolojik Tasarım Rehberi.” (S. Eryıldız & D. Eryıldız, Trans.). İstanbul: Yapı Endüstri Merkezi Yayınları.
  3. [3] Awbi, H. B. (2003). Ventilation of Buildings. Ventilation of Buildings: Second Edition (2nd Edition.). London: Spon Press Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203634479
  4. [4] Givoni, B. (1994). Passive and Low Energy Cooling of Buildings. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
  5. [5] La Roche, P. M. (2017). Carbon-neutral architectural design. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis, CRC Press.
  6. [6] Santamouris, M. (1998). Natural Ventilation in Buildings - A Design Handbook. (Francis. Allard, Ed.). London: James and James (Science Publishers) Ltd.
  7. [7] Lechner, N. (2015). Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects (4th Edition.). New Jersey: Wiley & Sons Inc.
  8. [8] Weber, W., & Yannas, S. (Eds.). (2013). Lessons from Vernacular Architecture. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203756164

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Architectural Design, Information Technologies in Architecture and Design, Sustainable Architecture

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 31, 2026

Submission Date

February 20, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 14 Number: 1

APA
Gökşen, F. (2026). Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent. Gazi University Journal of Science Part B: Art Humanities Design and Planning, 14(1), 137-156. https://izlik.org/JA27SM57KB
AMA
1.Gökşen F. Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent. GUJSPB. 2026;14(1):137-156. https://izlik.org/JA27SM57KB
Chicago
Gökşen, Fulya. 2026. “Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part B: Art Humanities Design and Planning 14 (1): 137-56. https://izlik.org/JA27SM57KB.
EndNote
Gökşen F (March 1, 2026) Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent. Gazi University Journal of Science Part B: Art Humanities Design and Planning 14 1 137–156.
IEEE
[1]F. Gökşen, “Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent”, GUJSPB, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 137–156, Mar. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA27SM57KB
ISNAD
Gökşen, Fulya. “Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part B: Art Humanities Design and Planning 14/1 (March 1, 2026): 137-156. https://izlik.org/JA27SM57KB.
JAMA
1.Gökşen F. Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent. GUJSPB. 2026;14:137–156.
MLA
Gökşen, Fulya. “Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent”. Gazi University Journal of Science Part B: Art Humanities Design and Planning, vol. 14, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 137-56, https://izlik.org/JA27SM57KB.
Vancouver
1.Fulya Gökşen. Natural Ventilation and Passive Cooling in Architectural Design: A Systematic Review of CFD Studies Using ANSYS Fluent. GUJSPB [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 1;14(1):137-56. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA27SM57KB