Effect of trunk length on the flow around a fir tree

Abstract

Flow around a small white fir tree was investigated with varying the length of the bottom trunk (hereafter referred to as bottom gap). The velocity fields around the tree, which was placed in a closed-type wind tunnel test section, were quantitatively measured using particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique. Three different flow regions are observed behind the tree due to the bottom gap effect. Each flow region exhibits a different flow structure as a function of the bottom gap ratio. Depending on the gap ratio, the aerodynamic porosity of the tree changes and the different turbulence structure is induced. As the gap ratio increases, the maximum turbulence intensity is increased as well. However, the location of the local maximum turbulence intensity is nearly invariant. These changes in the flow and turbulence structures around a tree due to the bottom gap variation significantly affect the shelter effect of the tree. The wind-speed reduction is increased and the height of the maximum wind-speed reduction is decreased, as the gap ratio decreases.