Surface-pressure variations on a triangular prism by porous fences in a simulated atmospheric boundary layer

Abstract

Abstract Surface-pressure variations on a two-dimensional triangular prism model behind porous wind fences were investigated experimentally at Reynolds number of Re = 2.1 × 105. This is a basic study to evaluate the effectiveness of porous fence to abate wind-blown dusts from triangular-shaped coal piles in an open storage yard. The neutrally buoyant atmospheric boundary layer was generated in the wind tunnel test section to simulate the flow over open terrain. Various fences with different porosity e and height were tested to investigate their effects on the surface pressure acting on a prism model at different locations. Flow visualization was also carried out to see the flow structure qualitatively. The results show that a porous fence with porosity of 40–50% is most effective for the reduction of pressure fluctuations on the model surface, i.e. abate the wind erosion effectively. The mean pressure coefficients decrease when the fence height is greater than the model height. In the near-wake region, the effect of prism location behind the fence was not significant, compared to that of fence porosity and height.