Numerical simulation of fluid flow around porous fences and highways

An initial study to develop a numerical tool by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods for investigating the air flow characteristics around the porous fences and highway was completed. In order to satisfy the requirements for the building and construction of highway in the desert areas, a detailed CFD model was built and a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation was performed by using a commercial package ANSYS. By comparing with available test data, the RANS simulations are substantially consistent with existing experimental results. The flow distribution function, height of porous fences and porosity and number of openings significantly affect the air flow in the vicinity of the porous fence. Also, the wake zone increases with increasing height of the roadbed and the grade of side slope. Thus, the present framework is useful to investigate the general airflow pattern in and around other engineering constructions.