Field And Wind-Tunnel Studies Of Aerodynamic Roughness Length

Abstract

The aerodynamic roughness length (z0) values of three Gobi desert surfaces were obtained by measurement of the boundary-layer wind profile in the field. To clarify the factors affecting the Gobi surface aerodynamic roughness length, a wind-tunnel experiment was conducted. The wind-tunnel simulation shows that z0 values increase with increasingsize and coverage of roughness elements. Especially, the shape and height of roughnesselements are more important than other factors in affecting roughness length. The roughness length increases with decreasing values of the geometric parameter (the ratio of element horizontal surface area to height, λ) of roughness elements. But at a higher free stream velocity, the height is more important than the shape in affecting roughness length.