Universität zu Köln

Lima, Izael A., Araujo, Ascanio D., Parteli, Eric J. R., Andrade, Jose S., Jr. and Herrmann, Hans J. (2017). Optimal array of sand fences. Sci Rep, 7. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

Sand fences are widely applied to prevent soil erosion by wind in areas affected by desertification. Sand fences also provide a way to reduce the emission rate of dust particles, which is triggered mainly by the impacts of wind-blown sand grains onto the soil and affects the Earth's climate. Many different types of fence have been designed and their effects on the sediment transport dynamics studied since many years. However, the search for the optimal array of fences has remained largely an empirical task. In order to achieve maximal soil protection using the minimal amount of fence material, a quantitative understanding of the flow profile over the relief encompassing the area to be protected including all employed fences is required. Here we use Computational Fluid Dynamics to calculate the average turbulent airflow through an array of fences as a function of the porosity, spacing and height of the fences. Specifically, we investigate the factors controlling the fraction of soil area over which the basal average wind shear velocity drops below the threshold for sand transport when the fences are applied. We introduce a cost function, given by the amount of material necessary to construct the fences. We find that, for typical sand-moving wind velocities, the optimal fence height (which minimizes this cost function) is around 50 cm, while using fences of height around 1.25 m leads to maximal cost.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Lima, Izael A. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Araujo, Ascanio D. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Parteli, Eric J. R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Andrade, Jose S., Jr. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Herrmann, Hans J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-236336
DOI:	10.1038/srep45148
Journal or Publication Title:	Sci Rep
Volume:	7
Date:	2017
Publisher:	NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	2045-2322
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language POROUS FENCES; TRANSVERSE DUNES; WIND-TUNNEL; AIR-FLOW; NUMERICAL-SIMULATION; BARCHAN DUNE; WINDBREAK; MODEL; VELOCITY; VEGETATION Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/23633