Temperature control is an important limitation to further increase in geotechnical centrifuge power. Although vacuum pumps can reduce windage loss, they also negatively affect heat transfer performance. Therefore, in this study, we aim to accurately determine the rate at which windage loss decreases with pressure to help assess whether reducing pressure is beneficial to temperature control. A computational fluid dynamic method based on the multi-reference model and k-omega shear-stress transport turbulence model is used to simulate the ZJU400gt geotechnical centrifuge. The windage loss and temperature of ZJU400 at 0-150 gravity acceleration under normal pressure conditions are simulated. Compared with the experimental data, the error is < 20.7%, indicating simulation reliability. Furthermore, the simulation model is used to simulate the windage loss power under low-pressure conditions and predict the relationship between the windage loss power and pressure. Compared with current calculation methods, which yield a linear relationship between windage loss and operating pressure, the simulation results indicate a slightly nonlinear relationship. At 5,000 Pa, the simulated windage loss is 40% larger than the calculated value, severely affecting the temperature control design. Moreover, the velocity exhibits minimal variation with pressure, whereas the effective kinematic viscosity varies substantially. The nonlinear relationship between the windage loss and pressure can be attributed to increased turbulent kinetic energy and the size of the wake region caused by vacuum pumping. A formula for nonlinear windage loss with pressure is proposed, providing a basis for the future design of super-gravity geotechnical centrifuges.

Wind resistance optimization is crucial for enhancing the rotational speed of supergravity centrifuges. We conducted a study using computational fluid dynamics on the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) under construction at Zhejiang University and validated it experimentally using a ZJU400gt centrifuge. Our findings indicate significant reductions in wind resistance through structural modifications of the CHIEF. Reducing the outer radius from 4650 to 4150 mm decreased wind resistance by 16%, primarily due to reduced effective viscosity in the wake region’s gases. More substantial reductions were achieved by lowering the height of the outer wall from 2200 to 1400 mm, which cut wind resistance by 25%. This height reduction suppressed vortex shedding and Kármán vortex street development via the Venturi effect. Adjustments to the roughness height of wall surfaces further decreased wind resistance, with minimal impact from arm roughness. A critical roughness height was identified, below which no further reductions in wind resistance could be attained. Notably, using disc-shaped arms reduced wind resistance by approximately 73% because of their minimal pressure–resistance components and predominant frictional resistance, highlighting their potential in future high-speed centrifuge designs.

Distance-decay models are fundamental to accessibility modeling; yet their alignment with actual travel behavior remains insufficiently examined in empirical terms. To help address this gap, we propose a dual-component Tanner–Gaussian decay model that seeks to mitigate two key limitations of traditional accessibility frameworks by simultaneously describing the phenomena of full decay and local peaks. The model is calibrated using survey data from an urban park in Hangzhou, China, and subsequently assessed on two additional datasets from Wuhan and Shanghai. Results indicate that: (1) traditional Gaussian functions may overestimate short-distance and underestimate long-distance accessibility, while Tanner functions tend to capture long-tail decay more effectively and appear more suitable for long-distance accessibility estimation; (2) the proposed dual-component model performs favorably in large samples, though its stability appears sensitive to sample size. By comparing the application of multiple accessibility models across three datasets, we highlight how their suitability varies depending on the specific context. This comparison may offer a reference that could assist designers in identifying underserved areas and supporting more equitable access to urban green spaces in the context of rapid urbanization.