Numerical simulation and wind tunnel test for redistribution of snow on a flat roof

Computational fluid dynamics simulation of snowdrift around buildings: Past achievements and future perspectives

Adaptive-mesh method using RBF interpolation: A time-marching analysis of steady snow drifting on stepped flat roofs

Wind tunnel test of snow redistribution on flat roofs

CFD simulation of snow redistribution on gable roofs: Impact of roof slope

An accurate prediction of wind-induced redistribution of snow load on roof surfaces is vital to structural design. To represent the pattern of snow distribution caused by snowdrift in wind tunnel test, appropriate modeling particles should be selected. The particle density is the key to determine the values of several important similarity parameters. In this study, the redistribution of snow load on a stepped flat roof was simulated by means of wind tunnel test using low-density saw wood ash, medium-density polyfoam, and high-density silica sand, respectively. To ensure the comparability of the test results of the three modeling particles, the wind tunnel test results for comparison were performed under almost the same conditions of dimensionless wind velocity and dimensionless time. Then, the results of the present study were compared with those from field observations of prototypes in previous studies. The effects of wind duration, wind velocity, and roof span on the redistribution of snow on roof surfaces were investigated. The characteristics of erosion/deposition range and the location of maximum quantities of erosion/deposition under independent effects of wind duration, wind velocity, and roof span were also studied.

Jinhai Hu

Papers

Numerical simulation and wind tunnel test for redistribution of snow on a flat roof

Wind tunnel test of snow loads on a stepped flat roof using different granular materials

LES and wind tunnel test on friction velocity on roof surfaces