Numerical study on the bearing response trend of perforated sheet-type sand fences

Abstract

• The displacement and stress of the sand fence had three stages with time. • The stress on the sand fence was mainly distributed at the bottom of the column. • The maximum stress on the sand fence increases with the increase of wind speed. • The stress on the sand fence increases with the decrease of pore sizes. Based on the 3D fluid–solid coupling numerical calculation method, a systematic study was conducted on the bearing characteristics of a perforated sheet-type sand fence at a given penetration rate, opening size, and wind velocity. According to the results of this study, both the displacement and stress of the sand fence experienced an impact stage, a coupling stage, and a stabilization stage under different wind velocities and times. At the initial moment of the impact stage, both the displacement and stress of the sand fence reached their maximum, i.e., the maximum position of the sand fence displacement was at the top of the panel central line, whereas the maximum position of the stress was at the site of the column 4.5 cm away from the column bottom. The duration of the impact stage was 1.5 s and did not change with the opening size or wind velocity. In the coupling stage, the displacement and stress of the sand fence underwent intense fluctuations, and the amplitude of fluctuations decreased with time. The duration of the coupling stage did not change with opening size, but increased with the increase in wind velocity. In the stabilization stage, both the displacement and stress of the sand fence reached a stable state and did not significantly change with time. In each stage, both the displacement and stress of the sand fence are inversely proportional to the opening size and directly proportional to the wind velocity, i.e., the lower the opening size, the higher the wind velocity, and the greater the displacement and stress of the sand fence. However, when the hole diameter drops below 1.03 cm, it is no longer a main influencing factor of sand fence displacement or stress change. For the sand fence in each stage, the panel displacement was higher than the column displacement, whereas the column stress was higher than the panel stress. This paper provides a basis for the design and optimization of sand fence structures, lays the foundation for establishing a mechanics-physics model for the stress distribution of sand fence structures, and presents relatively high research values.