Characteristics of Drifting Sand Flux over Gobi Surface: A Wind Tunnel Simulation

Ke Cum Zhang; Rui Ping Zu; Jian Jun Qu; Hai Yad Fang

doi:10.56093/aaz.v46i1.65013

Authors

Ke Cum Zhang Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China Gansu Province, China
Rui Ping Zu Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China Gansu Province, China
Jian Jun Qu Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China Gansu Province, China
Hai Yad Fang Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China Gansu Province, China

https://doi.org/10.56093/aaz.v46i1.65013

Abstract

Through simulation studies on characteristics of drifting sand flux over Gobi surface in wind tunnel, this paper aims to inquire how the environmental parameters of Gobi surface affect the turbulence of air current, the structure of drifting sand flux and the velocity profile within the boundary layers so that it can provide a theoretical basis for the engineering design of sand-control in Gobi region. The experiment showed that the drifting sand activities mainly focus within 20 cm over the Gobi surface, and there is a good relationship between sand concentration and corresponding wind velocity. However, the distribution pattern of sand concentration takes on a shape like elephant nose over Gobi surface and it does not follow the logarithmic law as it does on sand-bed. This phenomenon mainly results from grain-to-gravel collision over the Gobi surface. By combining the sand concentration with the distribution function of wind velocity, the function of energy distribution within sand-laden layer could be drawn. Key words: Sand-laden layer, structure of sand flux, wind tunnel simulation, wind velocity profile.