Wind tunnel test on wind-sand flow under blowing sand environment

By simulating different conditions of wind blowing sand in wind tunnel test, the vertical distribution characteristics of sand consistency in wind-sand flow under various wind speed and particle size of sand were analyzed.It is found that the consistency of sand is dependent on particle size of sand,the wind speed and the height. When the size of sand particles is controlled, consistency of sand from the same height increases as wind speed increases. Moreover, for the same wind speed as well as the same particle size, sand consistency decreases exponentially with the increase in height. Different types of sands were also compared. It is found that with the same wind speed and at the same height, consistency of coarse sand, silver sand and the mixture of both increase in turn. In terms of the comparison of wind speed with and without sand, it is found that wind velocity profile with sand at different heights is lower than its counterpart. However, this pattern is only observed within 0.3 meters from the sand surface. Within this range, all the three types of sand can reduce the wind speed and enhance turbulence intensity and the effects are decreased with the consistency of sand. © 2019, Editorial Office of Journal of Building Structures. All right reserved.