TITLE:
Similarity Study on Snowdrift Wind Tunnel Test
AUTHORS:
Weihua Wang, Haili Liao, Mingshui Li, Hanjie Huang
KEYWORDS:
Similarity Parameters; Wind Tunnel Test; Snowdrift; Roof
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Civil Engineering,
Vol.3 No.3B,
October
11,
2013
ABSTRACT: The model for snowdrift wind tunnel test needs to be
similar with the prototype. Based on detailed analysis in aspects of geometry, kinematics
and dynamics, the major similarity parameters that need to be satisfied are
gained. The contradiction between the Reynolds number and Froude number as
well as the problem of time scale is introduced, and the selections
of the model parameters are specified. Lastly, an example of snowdrift wind
tunnel test by adoption of quartz sand as the model of snow grains is
presented. The flow field and the snow distributions on a typical stepped roof
were investigated. The results show that the flow filed characters are in
good agreement with the field observations, and the stepped roof snow depth
distributions are basically consistent with the observation results.