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Numerical and experimental analysis of wind erosion on a sinusoidal pile

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Abstract

Erosion is a common phenomenon in nature, and it may cause a wide range of problems such as air pollution, and destruction of agricultural land, shelters and stockpiles. The present work deals with stockpiles, which have their profiles described by a sinus function or by similar trigonometric functions. Analysis of the erosion by air flow over these piles will provide for further understanding of the erosion underlying mechanisms and, moreover, how to control them and eventually to prevent them. To this purpose, different experimental tests are conducted for a pile with a sinuous profile, and particular attention is given to the time development of the profile due to the erosion process; the effect of the air velocity is also studied by selecting different velocities. In addition, the flow over several deformed piles is numerically predicted using the CFX software; the results clearly show the erosion process is strongly dependent upon time, velocity field and surface disturbances. A correlation between the erosion rate and the velocity is proposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo II, 3030-788, Coimbra, Portugal

    Almerindo D. Ferreira & Amir Farimani

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada

    Antonio C. M. Sousa

Authors
  1. Almerindo D. Ferreira
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  2. Amir Farimani
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  3. Antonio C. M. Sousa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Almerindo D. Ferreira.

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Ferreira, A.D., Farimani, A. & Sousa, A.C.M. Numerical and experimental analysis of wind erosion on a sinusoidal pile. Environ Fluid Mech 11, 167–181 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-010-9168-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-010-9168-x

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