Wind tunnel test on the effect of metal net fences on sand flux in a Gobi Desert,China

The Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-speed Railway runs through an expansive windy area in a Gobi Desert, and sand-blocking fences were built to protect the railway from destruction by wind-blown sand. However, the shielding effect of the sand-blocking fence is below the expectation. In this study, effects of metal net fences with porosities of 0.5 and 0.7 were tested in a wind tunnel to determine the effectiveness of the employed two kinds of fences in reducing wind velocity and restraining wind-blown sand. Specifically, the horizontal wind velocities and sediment flux densities above the gravel surface were measured under different free-stream wind velocities for the following conditions: no fence at all, single fence with a porosity of 0.5, single fence with a porosity of 0.7, double fences with a porosity of 0.5, and double fences with a porosity of 0.7. Experimental results showed that the horizontal wind velocity was more significantly decreased by the fence with a porosity of 0.5, especially for the double fences. The horizontal wind velocity decreased approximately 65% at a distance of 3.25 m(i.e., 13 H, where H denotes the fence height) downwind the double fences, and no reverse flow or vortex was observed on the leeward side. The sediment flux density decreased exponentially with height above the gravel surface downwind in all tested fences. The reduction percentage of total sediment flux density was higher for the fence with a porosity of 0.5 than for the fence with a porosity of 0.7, especially for the double fences. Furthermore, the decreasing percentage of total sediment flux density decreased with increasing free-stream wind velocity. The results suggest that compared with metal net fence with a porosity of 0.7, the metal net fence with a porosity of 0.5 is more effective for controlling wind-blown sand in the expansive windy area where the Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-speed Railway runs through.     

Effects of different types of guardrails on sand transportation of desert highway pavement

Guardrail, an important highway traffic safety facility, is mainly used to prevent vehicles from accidentally driving off the road and to ensure driving safety. Desert highway guardrails hinder the movement of wind-blown sand, resulting in the decline of sand transportation by the pavement and the deposition of sand gains on the pavement, and endangering traffic safety. To reveal the influence of guardrails on sand transportation of desert highway pavement, we tested the flow field and sand tran...     

尼龙网方格沙障防风效应复变规律

方格沙障的布设参数直接影响防风效应的复变作用,定量表达其复变规律,对于沙障配置模式的确定具有重要意义。在乌兰布和沙漠机械整平的风沙观测场,铺设9种不同高度、规格的尼龙网方格沙障,观测其在不同风速背景下的风速流场特征,揭示方格沙障防风效应的复变规律。结果表明:尼龙网方格沙障防风效应复合变化受不同指示风速下,沙障高度与规格共同的影响。沙障内部0. 1 m高度的风速随防护宽度的增加呈对数函数递减,指示风速增大1 m·s~(-1),风速衰减率增加0. 07倍;沙障高度增大0. 1 m,风速衰减率增加0. 20倍;方格边长增大1 m,风速衰减率减小0. 07倍。观测的9种规格方格沙障,30 cm高度1 m×1 m规格沙障复变作用最强,15 cm高度2 m×2 m规格沙障复变作用最弱。该结果可为确定沙障合理防护宽度、节约沙障铺设成本、优化沙障布设技术提供基础数据和理论支撑。     

基于SPH方法的风沙流运动特性研究

文中基于光滑粒子流体动力学(Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics:SPH)方法,采用五次样条光滑函数,通过调节不同类型粒子光滑因子,对风沙流运动特性进行分析:1)在风沙流起动阶段,沙粒平均水平速度随高度增加而增大,同一高度处沙粒平均水平速度随时间推移而减小。2)风沙流稳定前后,沙粒数均随高度的增加而减少。3)风沙流形成过程中气体粒子在计算域中心位置产生涡流,并随着时间推移,涡流又出现在计算域中上及右下方位置。4)起沙前后气体脉动强度随摩阻风速增加而增加,随高度增加呈现不同变化。结果表明:该方法模拟精度较高,适用于解决风沙两相流数值模拟问题。     

Effect of the W-beam central guardrails on wind-blown sand deposition on desert expressways in sandy regions

Many desert expressways are affected by the deposition of the wind-blown sand,which might block the movement of vehicles or cause accidents.W-beam central guardrails,which are used to improve the safety of desert expressways,are thought to influence the deposition of the wind-blown sand,but this has yet not to be studied adequately.To address this issue,we conducted a wind tunnel test to simulate and explore how the W-beam central guardrails affect the airflow,the wind-blown sand flux and the deposition of the wind-blown sand on desert expressways in sandy regions.The subgrade model is 3.5 cm high and 80.0 cm wide,with a bank slope ratio of 1:3.The W-beam central guardrails model is 3.7 cm high,which included a 1.4-cm-high W-beam and a 2.3-cm-high stand column.The wind velocity was measured by using pitot-static tubes placed at nine different heights(1,2,3,5,7,10,15,30 and 50 cm)above the floor of the chamber.The vertical distribution of the wind-blown sand flux in the wind tunnel was measured by using the sand sampler,which was sectioned into 20 intervals.In addition,we measured the wind-blown sand flux in the field at K50 of the Bachu-Shache desert expressway in the Taklimakan Desert on 11 May 2016,by using a customized 78-cm-high gradient sand sampler for the sand flux structure test.Obstruction by the subgrade leads to the formation of two weak wind zones located at the foot of the windward slope and at the leeward slope of the subgrade,and the wind velocity on the leeward side weakens significantly.The W-beam central guardrails decrease the leeward wind velocity,whereas the velocity increases through the bottom gaps and over the top of the W-beam central guardrails.The vertical distribution of the wind-blown sand flux measured by wind tunnel follows neither a power-law nor an exponential function when affected by either the subgrade or the W-beam central guardrails.At 0.0H and 0.5H(where H=3.5 cm,which is the height of the subgrade),the sand transport is less at the 3 cm height from the subgrade surface than at the 1 and 5 cm heights as a result of obstruction by the W-beam central guardrails,and the maximum sand transportation occurs at the 5 cm height affected by the subgrade surface.The average saltation height in the presence of the W-beam central guardrails is greater than the subgrade height.The field test shows that the sand deposits on the overtaking lane leeward of the W-beam central guardrails and that the thickness of the deposited sand is determined by the difference in the sand mass transported between the inlet and outlet points,which is consistent with the position of the minimum wind velocity in the wind tunnel test.The results of this study could help us to understand the hazards of the wind-blown sand onto subgrade with the W-beam central guardrails.     

戈壁、流沙地表风沙流特性研究

通过对戈壁、流沙地表风沙流特性的风洞模拟实验研究,风沙流中的风速廓线分布满足幂函数的形式,其幂指数在0.20左右。对于戈壁地表,在不同风速下,相同高度层含沙量具有很大的相关性,风沙活动层主要集中在距地表20cm范围内;由于沙粒与戈壁地表的砾石发生碰撞,风沙流不再服从对数关系递减,其极值出现的高度随风速的增加而上移,呈现"象鼻效应"。     

Effect of flexible and rigid roughness elements on aeolian sand transport

In developing countermeasures to reduce the negative effects of strong dust events, the fundamental relationship between surface conditions and sand transport remains problematic. We conducted field observations and wind tunnel experiments to examine the effect on sand transport efficiency of actual frontal area when using flexible roughness elements (artificial grass) and rigid roughness elements (tufts of stiff wire). In the field observations, the sand trap ratio approached a limit as the frontal area of artificial grass, measured as the Actual Frontal Area Index (AFAI), approached 25%, equivalent to a vegetation cover of 20%. The wind tunnel experiments showed that the height of deposited sediment decreased downwind with both roughness elements, due to their reduction of both shear velocity and sand transport rates. The sediment flux decreased as the AFAI increased, and the rigid roughness element trapped more sand particles than the flexible one except at higher wind speeds and lower AFAI values. The sand trapping efficiency was greater for rigid roughness elements than for flexible ones, probably due to their high aerodynamic resistance, and thus wire tufts were more effective for trapping sand than artificial grass at higher AFAI values.     

塔里木沙漠公路对近地表风沙运动过程的影响

通过对塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地野外试验数据的分析,探讨了塔里木沙漠公路对近地表风沙运动过程的影响.结果表明:①阻沙栅栏和草方格固沙带对近地表气流的速度和风速廓线形成很大影响,风速整体被削弱,而且越接近地表,削弱程度越大,风速廓线的垂直梯度增加;②在防沙体系内,地表输沙率急剧下降,风沙流结构发生很大变化,下层含沙量下降,而上层含沙量相对变化较少,在阻沙栅栏的积沙带和草方格固沙带内上层含沙量趋于均匀分布;(3) 阻沙栅栏和草方格固沙带也影响沙丘的移动.当主导输沙风向与栅栏相交呈小角度时,靠近栅栏的沙丘顺栅栏走向侧向移动相交呈大角度时,移动方向变化不大,草方格固沙带不影响沙丘的移动方向;阻沙栅栏和草方格固沙带能降低沙丘的移动速度,而在固沙带内部,由于沙丘的逆向演变,沙丘体积减小,移动速度较快.     

Morphology and formation mechanism of sand shadow dunes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The formation and development of dunes depend on wind-blown sand movement which is affected by the characteristics of sand material, topography, wind regimes and other factors. In this paper, we investigated two sand shadow dune groups in Shigatse and Za’gya Zangbo of Tibet and an individual dune in Da Qaidam of Qinghai, and analyzed their topographies and morphologies, and the physical characteristics of the sand, wind regime and sand transport. Formed under harsh conditions behind hills, these mature sand shadow dunes are hundreds of meters long, have significant ridges and crescent dunes downwind, and have a hill pass on one or both sides. Wind tunnel experiments revealed that the hill gap and wind velocity are important factors in the formation of these dunes. Sand shadow dunes formed only when the gap spacing is two-thirds of the hill height. When wind velocities are 20 m/s, the sand body is divided into two parts. The hill pass allows the transport of sand by wind, creating a "narrow-pipe effect", which causes the transported material to gradually accumulate in the center of the shadow zone. We observed that the following are needed for sand shadow dunes to form:(1) strong winds, sufficient sand, suitable obstacles and a dry climate;(2) one or both sides of the obstacle forming the shadow zone must have a hill pass; and(3) the windward side of the obstacle must have a wide, flat area, providing adequate spacing for wind flow and transport of material and the leeward side must have a sufficiently broad, flat area to allow the release of the transported material. Research results on these newly discovered dunes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau could contribute to the understanding of dune geomorphology.     

塔里木沙漠公路防沙体系建设几个问题的探讨

沙害主要取决于两个系统因素的共同作用 :动力系统—风力和响应系统—下垫面状况。塔里木沙漠公路沿线风沙地貌形态类型复杂多样 ,沙源充足 ;起沙风频数高 ,作用时间长 ,防沙难度极大。已建成的高立式芦苇阻沙栅栏和 1 m× 1 m半隐蔽芦苇草方格固沙沙障结合的“阻固”体系 ,有效控制了沙害 ,但也存在一定问题。定位观测表明 ,沿线起沙风和输沙方向集中于 NE、ENE、E三个方向 ,占 46%～ 68% ,从理论上说 ,应加大风侧 (路东侧 )防护力度 ,而实际上固沙带内部强烈的风蚀与沙埋过程 ,使其有效年限与设置宽度关系不明显 ,宜采取窄宽度勤维修原则 ,上风侧宽度控制在 3 0 m～ 40 m,每 3～ 4年更新一次并及时维修。下风侧可不设置高立式沙障 ,固沙带宽度控制在 1 0 m～ 1 5 m为宜 ;高立式沙障与半隐蔽方格沙障前沿之间空留宽度控制在 8H以内较为适宜。依沙害程度 ,以单一原状芦苇固定沙障、复膜沙袋阻沙体活动沙障及固定沙障与活动沙障有机结合加强前沿阻沙力度 ;不同沙害部位设置不同规格不同高度的半隐蔽方格沙障、固化路肩边坡创造输沙断面等技术 ,形成立体防护体系 ,足以控制沙害。     

塔里木盆地塔中地区野外微梯度风沙流观测

利用2014年7月至8月塔中地区沙尘与扬沙天气下风沙流运动的实测数据,对0~85 mm高度内风沙流运动进行了研究。结果表明:(1)0~85 mm高度层,输沙率(Q)随风速(v)增大呈幂函数规律增加,R2≥0.975 7,且输沙率主要集中在0~35 mm高度内。(2)总输沙率和撞击颗粒数的最佳拟合函数为线性函数,R2≥0.878 2,相关性较好;塔中地区1 min最小临界起沙风速为4.0 m·s-1。(3)跃移运动集中在10:00—20:00,总输沙率最大值出现在12:00—16:00,17:00以后输沙率明显下降。     

风沙防治中覆网床面风沙流特性的风洞模拟

在风沙防治中,根据气流与沙物质地表作用的机理来看,主要有三种途径。一是降低床面风速,二是减少沙源,第三就是阻截运动气流与床面的相互作用。借助风洞模拟实验,对覆网床面风沙流特性研究发现:覆网床面沙面稳定性主要受覆网形状参数的影响,通过对覆网床面风速廓线、风沙流结构观测,主要探讨孔隙度、孔径等覆网参数对沙面稳定性的影响机理。另外,覆网床面蚀积状态还受进口风速的影响,在风速较小时,床面表现为积沙,风速较大时,床面开始风蚀。     

Effect of stones on the sand saltation threshold during natural sand and dust storms in a stony desert in Tsogt-Ovoo in the Gobi Desert,Mongolia

Non-erodible elements such as stones and vegetation are key to controlling wind erosion and dust emission in drylands. Stony deserts are widely distributed in the Gobi Desert, but the effect of stones on wind erosion and dust emission have not been well studied, except under artificial conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effect of stones on wind erosion and dust emission by measuring the sand saltation threshold in a stony desert in Tsogt-Ovoo in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, under natural surface conditions during sand and dust storms. We quantified the amount of stones by measuring the roughness density, and determined the threshold friction velocity for sand saltation by measuring wind speed and sand saltation count. Our results showed that the threshold friction velocity increased with the roughness density of stones. In the northern part of the study area, where neither a surface crust nor vegetation was observed, the roughness density of stones was 0.000 in a topographic depression (TD), 0.050 on a northern slope (N.SL), and 0.160 on the northern mountain (N.MT). The mean threshold friction velocity values were 0.23, 0.41, and 0.57 m/s at the TD, N.SL, and N.MT sites, respectively. In the southern part of the study area, the roughness density values of stones were 0.000 and 0.070-0.320 at the TD and southern slope sites, respectively, and the mean threshold friction velocities were 0.23 and 0.45-0.71 m/s, respectively. We further compared the observed threshold friction velocities with simulated threshold friction velocities using Raupach's theoretical roughness correction and the measured roughness density values, and found that Raupach's roughness correction worked very well in the simulation of threshold friction velocity in the stony desert. This means that the results of our stone measurement can be applied to a numerical dust model.     

植被沙障对近地表风沙流特征影响的风洞实验

植被沙障在一些地区已成为沙害防治的有效手段,其应用也越来越广泛,但对其治沙机理尚不很清楚.在盖度为10%,15%,20%,30%,40%,60%情况下,对植被沙障的防风固沙效益进行了风洞试验.实验风速设置为6,8,11 m/s,测定不同植被盖度的风速廓线特征、风沙流结构特征及其防沙效果.实验结果表明:①积沙总量随盖度增加而逐渐降低,风沙流中的砂粒分布在一定的高度范围内,但分布的高度随盖度的增加呈下降趋势;②植株的茂密程度对风沙流的结构有明显影响,盖度越高,积沙量越集中在下部;③盖度并不是导致积沙量为零的唯一指标,风蚀是否发生,还与植被的疏透度、防护林的高度等有关.     

青藏铁路沱沱河路段流场特征及沙害形成机理

通过对青藏铁路沱沱河路段路基流场结构、风速廓线特征的风洞模拟实验研究,发现气流在途经铁路路基时,路基断面对近地表流场改变极大,在其两侧形成明显的遇阻抬升区、集流加速区、减速沉降区以及消散恢复区。铁路沙害的形成主要是路基迎风侧气流由于遇阻抬升和集流加速,对路肩和路基中上部产生风蚀;随着气流加速抬升,底层砂粒以跌落沉降的方式堆积在路基迎风坡坡脚,造成路基沙埋;当气流越过路基,在背风侧由于减速沉降和涡旋运动,风沙流处于过饱和状态,将所携带的大量砂粒堆积在背风坡。     

Damage by wind-blown sand and its control measures along the Taklimakan Desert Highway in China

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental problems in the world,especially in the arid desert regions.Combating desertification,therefore,is an urgent task on a regional or even global scale.The Taklimakan Desert in China is the second largest mobile desert in the world and has been called the'Dead Sea'due to few organisms can exist in such a harsh environment.The Taklimakan Desert Highway,the longest desert highway(a total length of 446 km)across the mobile desert in the world,was built in the 1990s within the Taklimakan Desert.It has an important strategic significance regarding oil and gas resources exploration and plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of southern Xinjiang,China.However,wind-blow sand seriously damages the smoothness of the desert highway and,in this case,mechanical sand control system(including sand barrier fences and straw checkerboards)was used early in the life of the desert highway to protect the road.Unfortunately,more than 70%of the sand barrier fences and straw checkerboards have lost their functions,and the desert highway has often been buried and frequently blocked since 1999.To solve this problem,a long artificial shelterbelt with the length of 437 km was built along the desert highway since 2000.However,some potential problems still exist for the sustainable development of the desert highway,such as water shortage,strong sandstorms,extreme environmental characteristics and large maintenance costs.The study aims to provide an overview of the damages caused by wind-blown sand and the effects of sand control measures along the Taklimakan Desert Highway.Ultimately,we provide some suggestions for the biological sand control system to ensure the sustainable development of the Taklimakan Desert Highway,such as screening drought-resistant species to reduce the irrigation requirement and ensure the sound development of groundwater,screening halophytes to restore vegetation in the case of soil salinization,and planting cash crops,such as Cistanche,Wolfberry,Apocynum and other cash crops to decrease the high cost of maintenance on highways and shelterbelts.     

南疆铁路风沙流结构特征研究

通过对南疆铁路戈壁风沙流进行现场观测研究,提出了关于风沙流密度的计算方法,将大风所携沙粒定量化,解决了风沙运动研究中如何利用现场定时观测研究风沙流动态变化的技术难题.根据现场实测资料分析,揭示了南疆铁路风沙流密度随高度和风速的变化关系.从中可以看出,风沙流密度随高度变化显现斜"L"形,以3m高为分界点;而相对的风沙流密...     

库布齐沙漠机械防沙措施的防护效益

在库布齐沙漠风沙防治试验场,开展了机械防沙措施的防护效益观测。结果表明:防风效益、阻沙效益和表土含水率等随沙障材料、规模和结构发生变化。1 1 m×1 m植物纤维网沙障和高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)网沙障风速降低比(K值)分别为58.5%和55.7%,均高于同规格的沙柳沙障的18.3%,说明同一规格下植物纤维网防风效果要优于其他材料;2 1 m×1 m植物纤维网沙障和1 m×1 m HDPE沙障的K值均小于相同材料8 m×8 m沙障的K值,说明小规格低立式沙障防风效应,低于相同材料较大规格高立式沙障;3月积沙量数据分析表明,阻沙栅栏能有效减小积沙量,而固沙沙障内积沙量受风向和局部地形影响较大;4不同材料与不同规格沙障内的表土含水率均高于对照区裸沙地,说明防沙措施对保持土壤水分也起到了一定作用。     

塔克拉玛干沙漠北缘荒漠过渡带风沙流结构特征分析

利用多种集沙仪,通过野外实时输沙观测,对塔克拉玛干沙漠北缘荒漠过渡带的地表风沙流特征进行了分析,结果表明：① 100 cm高度范围内,总输沙量的47.3%分布在30 cm高度内,这一比例小于前人的研究结果;输沙量随高度的变化比较符合幂函数分布。② 风沙流输沙的粒径以细砂、极细砂与粉砂为主,各高度层所占比例均达99%以上;风沙流输沙平均粒径随高度增加而减小,沙尘的含量随高度增加呈现“象鼻”状分布。③ 风沙流中贴地层风速廓线受风沙相互作用的影响,不再符合对数分布,更加符合幂函数u=az^b分布。     

不同砾石盖度戈壁床面动力学特征研究

利用野外车载移动式风洞,对莫高窟顶不同砾石盖度戈壁床面的动力学特征进行了实地模拟实验。结果表明：砾石盖度直接决定戈壁床面的粗糙元数量和分布状况,进而影响近地表风速廓线、摩阻速度、床面粗糙度和剪切力;随着风洞进口指示风速的增加,摩阻速度呈线性递增,而动力学粗糙度在波动中呈下降趋势;相同高度,随着砾石盖度的增加,近地表风速逐渐降低,而摩阻速度、动力学粗糙度和剪切力呈线性增加;当床面盖度增加至35%时,动力学粗糙度达到0.30 cm,摩阻速度相应提高到0.93 cm/s,床面剪切力增加至1.11 N/cm。