Wind tunnel simulation of wind-sand transport characteristics over frozen dune surfaces

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2024.00164

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (1): 229-241.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2024.00164

Wind tunnel simulation of wind-sand transport characteristics over frozen dune surfaces

Jinrong Li¹(), Zhaoen Han¹, Wei Cui¹, Xiaolin Jin², Chunhua Dou³

^1.Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-Hydrology National Observation and Research Station，China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research，Beijing 100038，China
^2.School of Public Management，Inner Mongolia University，Hohhot 010021，China
^3.The Water Quality Monitoring Center of Hohhot，Hohhot 010020，China

Received:2024-10-16 Revised:2024-11-25 Online:2025-01-20 Published:2025-01-13

Abstract

Abstract:

In winter， the soil beneath the top 10 cm of mobile dune surfaces in the Ulan Buh Desert undergoes freezing. Wind erosion of the dune surface layer exposes sections of the frozen soil. This results in a surface with frozen “bare patches” interspersed among dry sand layers， altering the windblown sand transport process. This study employs wind tunnel simulations to investigate the impact of the frozen layer on windblown sand transport patterns. It examines sand transport characteristics under different wind speeds and moisture gradients in three scenarios： non-frozen， frozen， and dry sand combined with frozen conditions. This study reveals how soil freezing affects sand transport. The results indicate that：（1） The sand transport rate per unit width of the aeolian sand source and the dry sand combined with frozen source increases exponentially with wind speed and decreases exponentially with water content. Sand transport rate is strongly correlated with both wind speed and water content， following an exponential relationship with both factors. （2） Freezing reduces sand transport rate by 3% to 91%.When “bare patches” appear in the field， the sand transport rate decreases by 49% to 97%. Generally， the sand transport rate of dry sand combined with frozen is greater than that of aeolian sand before freezing， which is greater than that of frozen aeolian sand. （3） Before freezing， the sand transport rate of aeolian sandy soil decreased with height， but after freezing， it first increased and then decreased with height.The relationship followed an exponential function. （4）During wind erosion， when the dry sand layer and frozen soil layer are interspersed， sand particles move from the dry sand bed to the frozen soil interface， causing changes in the sand bed surface. Saltation transport increases by approximately 18%， and the vertical distribution of sediment transport first increases and then decreases， conforming to a power function. The “trumpet effect” is observed at a height of 2 to 6 cm. When frozen “bare patches” appear on dunes in winter， windblown sand transport is inhibited， while the proportion of saltation in the wind-sand flow increases.

Key words: frozen layer, sand transport rate, wind-sand flow structure, wind tunnel experiment, Ulan Buh Desert

CLC Number:

P931.3

Jinrong Li, Zhaoen Han, Wei Cui, Xiaolin Jin, Chunhua Dou. Wind tunnel simulation of wind-sand transport characteristics over frozen dune surfaces[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2025, 45(1): 229-241.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig.1 Location of sand sampling

Fig.2 Wind speed contours simulated in the wind tunnel under outdoor ground conditions

Table 1 Sand source laying parameters

沙源类型	沙源长度/cm	沙源宽度/cm	沙源厚度/cm	土壤水分/%	风速/（m·s^-1）
湿沙层（非冻结）	300	100	5	0.28、1~5	5、7、8.5、10、12
冻结层	300	100	5	0.28、1~5
自然干沙+冻结	100+200	100	5	0.28+1~5

Fig.3 Wind tunnel simulation test sand source layout

Fig.4 Three kinds of simulated sand source unit width sediment transport rate with different water content gradients

Fig.5 Three simulated sand source unit width sediment transport rates with different wind speed gradients

Fig.6 The sediment transport rate of three sand sources varies with height under different wind speeds

Fig.7 Structure of sand source wind-sand flow in non-frozen sandy soil

Fig.8 Wind-sand flow structure of frozen sandy soil sand source

Fig.9 Wind-sand flow structure of dry sand and frozen sand source

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Wind tunnel simulation of wind-sand transport characteristics over frozen dune surfaces

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