SIMULATION OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL WIND FLOW AND SNOW DRIFTING APPLICATION FOR ROADS: PART I

Snowdrift sedimentation on leeward facing mountain slopes and terrain ridges makes road planning in certain areas very difficult. Problem areas are frequently found on leeward facing slopes where the wind blows perpendicular over the road. This paper uses the commercial computational fluid dynamics code Flow 3D to simulate two-dimensional wind flow, in order to quantify the snow drifting conditions for roads. To evaluate the numerical model, the study includes a comparison to Askervein Hill (Norway) data. The main idea of the study is to simulate the wind flow over original terrain profiles and the flow over actual observed snowdrifts, and compare the resulting friction velocity profiles. This comparison is used to estimate the snow drifting rate, and the effect and capacity of natural snow sedimentation areas. A relationship is proposed between the slope of the terrain upwind from the snowdrift area, the slope of the drift, and the horizontal rate of change of the snow drifting rate.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9058091481
• Corporate Authors:

  AA Balkema

  P.O. Box 1675
  Rotterdam,   Netherlands  BR-3000
• Authors:
  • Thordarson, S
  • Norem, H
• Conference:
  • Snow Engineering: Recent Advances and Developments. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Snow Engineering.
  • Location: Trondheim, Norway
  • Date: 2000-6-19 to 2000-6-21
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 437-443

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fluid dynamics; Friction; Highway engineering; Mathematical models; Roads; Simulation; Slopes; Snow cover; Snow phenomena; Snowdrifts; Terrain; Wind
• Geographic Terms: Askervein Hill (Norway)
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00803972
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9058091481
• Contract Numbers: 06555167, ATM92-20009
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 7 2001 12:00AM