Computational fluid dynamic analysis of wind flow around Mangrove roots to reduce the damage due to heavy wind

Abstract

• The wind flow around Pneumatophores Mangrove Roots of Avicennia Marina mangrove species. • CFD simulation and analysis of Incompressible and Compressible flow of air around the roots. • The wind flow around the Mangrove roots using numerical method. • The CFD analysis by the Finite volume method. • The wind speed reduces to more than 70% after the air flows through the mangrove roots. This research work aims at analyzing the wind flow around Pneumatophores Mangrove Roots of Avicennia Marina mangrove species to understand and visualize how the mangrove roots can reduce the speed of heavy wind and thereby play a prominent role in protecting the coast from the effects of cyclone, typhoons or hurricanes, mudslides and storm surges. Simulation and Analysis are performed with ANSYS Fluent software which employs Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) techniques. Wind speed during Extratropical storms and tropical cyclones is simulated using the flow of air with inlet velocities 75 km/hr., 250 km/hr. and 450 km/hr. Velocity, density and pressure at various locations are obtained to analyze the flow patterns. Results reveal that the presence of Mangrove roots reduces the wind speed by 70% of the initial speed of the wind. This data can be used in designing breakwater models as well as to improve the effectiveness of the existing ones.