Structural design of a natural windbreak using computational and experimental modeling

Abstract

Computational and experimental approaches are employed for the structural design of a natural windbreak. It is intended to find the optimum tree shelterbelt to obviate the uneven wind speed distribution across the width dimension of a high-level competition rowing channel. The experimental results, obtained in a wind tunnel, and consisting of erosion-technique images and local wind-speed measurements, are used to benchmark the computational model. A good agreement between the two sets of results is obtained. Several windbreak configurations, considering one or two rows of different cross-sectional shape and porosity, are computationally modeled. For the shortest row a rectangular shape, with porosity of 35%, is considered; for the tallest row, which aims the modeling of a poplar tree, a porosity of 87% is assumed at the trunk level, and 60% at the crown. The optimum shelterbelt consists of two rows, composed by bamboo and poplar trees, which allows the attainment of a low and nearly uniform wind flow across the width of the channel.