Wind tunnel test on the effect of metal net fences on sand flux in a Gobi Desert, China

The Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-speed Railway runs through an expansive windy area in a Gobi Desert, and sand-blocking fences were built to protect the railway from destruction by wind-blown sand. However, the shielding effect of the sand-blocking fence is below the expectation. In this study, effects of metal net fences with porosities of 0.5 and 0.7 were tested in a wind tunnel to determine the effectiveness of the employed two kinds of fences in reducing wind velocity and restraining wind-blown sand. Specifically, the horizontal wind velocities and sediment flux densities above the gravel surface were measured under different free-stream wind velocities for the following conditions： no fence at all, single fence with a porosity of 0.5, single fence with a porosity of 0.7, double fences with a porosity of 0.5, and double fences with a porosity of 0.7. Experimental results showed that the horizontal wind velocity was more significantly decreased by the fence with a porosity of 0.5, especially for the double fences. The horizontal wind velocity decreased approximately 65% at a distance of 3.25 m（i.e., 13 H, where H denotes the fence height） downwind the double fences, and no reverse flow or vortex was observed on the leeward side. The sediment flux density decreased exponentially with height above the gravel surface downwind in all tested fences. The reduction percentage of total sediment flux density was higher for the fence with a porosity of 0.5 than for the fence with a porosity of 0.7, especially for the double fences. Furthermore, the decreasing percentage of total sediment flux density decreased with increasing free-stream wind velocity. The results suggest that compared with metal net fence with a porosity of 0.7, the metal net fence with a porosity of 0.5 is more effective for controlling wind-blown sand in the expansive windy area where the Lanzhou-Xinjiang High-speed Railway runs through.

A wind tunnel investigation on the transverse motion of aeolian sand

A wind tunnel experiment was performed to investigate aeolian grain motions in the transverse direction, which is perpendicular to the incoming flow and parallels the sand bed. The trajectories in the horizontal plane were recorded by high-speed camera. Statistical analysis of 630 trajectories shows that both the motion orientation and the time-averaged speed follow Gaussian distributions. An exclusive method was used to analyze the driving mechanism. It was concluded that the three-dimensional turbulent air flow, rather than the spin of grain or grain-bed collisions, controls the transverse motion.

Experimental study on the sampling efficiency of the whirl type separation sand sampler in a wind tunnel

A performance test was conducted in a wind tunnel by changing the principal configuration parameters of a sampler such as the diameter of the container, inlet width and cone height. The results show that the average sand collection rate is from 80% to 90% when any one of the configuration parameter levels is changed. However, the variation of a parameter level results in different ef-fects on the sand collection rate for each soil sample within a certain size range of sand grains. The results show that for various sand grain sized soil sample at each wind speed, the sand collection rate decreases when the diameter of the container changes from 50 mm to 40 mm, the sand collection rate increases by about 2%-3% when the inlet width changes from 10 mm to 8 mm, and the sand collection rate increases by about 3%-4% when cone height is altered from 100 mm to 125 mm. The average sand collection rate is enhanced by 2%-4% for the soil sample of different sized sand grains when the diameter of the container is 50 mm, the inlet width is 8 mm, and cone height is 125 mm.

Feasibility study of tar sands conditioning for earth pressure balance tunnelling

This paper presents the results of laboratory test on the feasibility of soil conditioning for earth pressurebalance （EPB） excavation in a tar sand, which is a natural material never studied in this respect. Thelaboratory test performed is based on a procedure and methods used in previous studies with differenttypes of soils, but for this special complex material, additional tests are also conducted to verify particularproperties of the tar sands, such as the tilt test and vane shear test usually used in cohesive materials, anda direct shear test. The laboratory test proves that the test procedure is applicable also to this type of soiland the conditioned material can be considered suitable for EPB excavations, although it is necessary touse a certain percentage of fine elements （filler） to create a material suitable to be mixed with foam. Thetest results show that the conditioned material fulfils the required standard for an EPB application.

Reinvestigation of the scaling law of the windblown sand launch velocity with a wind tunnel experiment

Windblown sand transport is a leading factor in the geophysical evolution of arid and semi-arid regions.The evolution speed is usually indicated by the sand transport rate that is a function of launch velocity of sand particle,which has been investigated by the experimental measurement and numerical simulation.However,the obtained results in literatures are inconsistent.Some researchers have discovered a relation between average launch velocity and wind shear velocity,while some other researchers have suggested that average launch velocity is independent of wind shear velocity.The inconsistence of launch velocity leads to a controversy in the scaling law of the sand transport rate in the windblown case.On the contrary,in subaqueous case,the scaling law of the sand transport rate has been widely accepted as a cubic function of fluid shear velocity.In order to explain the debates surrounding the windblown case and the difference between windblown and subaquatic cases,this study reinvestigates the scaling law of the vertical launch velocity of windblown transported sand particles by using a dimensional analysis in consideration of the compatibility of the characteristic time of sand particle motion and that of air flow.Then a wind tunnel experiment is conducted to confirm the revisited scaling law,where the sand particle motion pictures are recorded by a high-speed camera and then the launch velocity is solved by the particle tracking velocimetry.By incorporating the results of dimensional analysis and wind tunnel experiment,it can be concluded that,the ratio of saltons number to reptons number determines the scaling law of sand particle launch velocity and that of sand transport rate,and using this ratio is able to explain the discrepancies among the classical models of steady sand transport.Moreover,the resulting scaling law can explain the sand sieving phenomenon:a greater fraction of large grains is observed as the distance to the wind tunnel entrance becomes larger.

Evolution of crescent-shaped sand dune under the influence of injected sand flux:scaling law and wind tunnel experiment

This paper studies the evolution of crescent-shaped dune under the influence of injected flux. A scaling law and a wind tunnel experiment are carried out for comparison. The experiment incorporates a novel image processing algorithm to recover the evolutionary process. The theoretical and experimental results agree well in the middle stage of dune evolution, but deviate from each other in the initial and final stages, suggesting that the crescent-shaped dune evolution is intrinsically scale-variant and that the crescent shape breaks down under unsaturated condition.

The Impact of Black Sea Sand Treatment Effectively Reducing Different Type of Pain

Purpose: Low back pain (LBP), Gonarthrosis, knee, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have been regarded as affecting more than three-quarters’ of individuals in their lifetime. The aim of this study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of topical patients with sand compared with control related to Gonarthrosis, LBP, knee, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pain. Methods: This is a prospective case and control designed study based on 101 pain case with Sand and 101 control subjects. The interventional groups in addition either topical sand or without sand 2 months after the intervention were assessed. We assessed tolerability of an established pain perception scale by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square (χ2) test. The paired t-test was used to compare the two groups before and after the intervention. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed for comparison of several group means. Results: The study was based on 202 patients, 41 males (20.3%) and 161 females (79.7%). There were statistically significant differences between subjects with and without Sand in term of Gonarthrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis LBP, knee, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pain (p = 0.033). Majority of patients were over age 55 years old (55%) and females 78 (77.2%). The mean score of total pain experience before and after the intervention was 7.41 ± 1.1 for black sand, and 4.24 ± 2.38 for without sand as control group. The mean scores of these 5 groups were highly significant before and after the intervention (p There was statistically highly significant in regarding subjects with Sand as compared with those before Sand after treatment mean score specifically with gonarthrosis before pain 7.23 ± 1.86 vs after treatment 4.54 ± 2.18 p < 0.001;rheumatoid arthritis before 8.28 ± 1.48 vs after treatment 4.80 ± 3.71 p < 0.001;Low Back Pain before 8.42 ± 1.83 vs after treatment 4.37 ± 1.52 p < 0.001;knee pain before 8.93 ± 0.89 vs after treatment 4.24 ± 0.24 p < 0.001;Carpal Tunnel Syndrome before 7.664 ± 1.04 vs after treatment 4.26 ± 1.03 p Conclusion: The current study has revealed that the topical treatments with sand could have a significant effect on the perception of pain compared to those in the control group with respect of gonarthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, LBP, knee, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome pain .

Experimental analysis of sand particles' lift-off and incident velocities in wind-blown sand flux

The probability distributions of sand particles＇ lift-off and incident velocities in a wind-blown sand flux play very important roles in the simulation of the wind-blown sand movement. In this paper, the vertical and the horizontal speeds of sand particles located at 1.0 mm above a sand-bed in a wind-blown sand flux are observed with the aid of Phase Doppler Anemometry （PDA） in a wind tunnel. Based on the experimental data, the probability distributions of not only the vertical lift-off speed but also the lift-off velocity as well as its horizontal component and the incident velocity as well as its vertical and horizontal components can be obtained by the equal distance histogram method. It is found, according to the results of the X^2-test for these probability distributions, that the probability density functions （pdf＇s） of the sand particles＇ lift-off and incident velocities as well as their vertical com- ponents are described by the Gamma density function with different peak values and shapes and the downwind incident and lift-off horizontal speeds, respectively, can be described by the lognormal and the Gamma density functions, These pdf＇s depend on not only the sand particle diameter but also the wind speed.

A sand production prediction model for weak sandstone reservoir in Kazakhstan

Weakly consolidated reservoirs are prone to sand production problem,which can lead to equipment damages and environmental issues.The conditions for sand production depend on stresses and properties of rock and fluid.Accurate sand volume estimation is,however,still a challenging issue,especially for reservoirs in weak formations.The weak reservoirs containing viscous or heavy oil are mainly discovered in shallow depths in Kazakhstan,with moderate temperature and pressure.Many prediction models developed for open-hole completions where the reservoir materials usually possess certain strength are not applicable for the local reservoirs where the materials are significantly weaker even if casing is used to support the wellbore with oil produced through the perforation tunnels.In this context,a prediction model was proposed where the volume of the produced sand was estimated as the volume of the plastic zone of the failed materials surrounding the perforation tunnels.The model assumes an evolving truncated conical shape for the damage zone and takes into account stress distributions and shear failure in this zone.Then,the proposed model was used to estimate sand volumes in 20 wells during oil production with sequential increase of flow rates.The predictions match well with the measured sand volumes in a local oil field.Finally,a sensitivity analysis was conducted on the model performance.It shows that the permeability of the plastic zone was the most significant controlling factor in the prediction results.

On the influence of sand-wind on atmospheric environment

The authors seek, through tests on simulated sand samples in a wind tunnel and analysis of minerals combination and trace elements, to discover the environmental implications of flying-up, falling-down and concentration variation as a function of natural wind speed and direction, distance of movement, range and extent of influence on the atmospheric environment, of micro-granular components on the ground surface in the Keerqin desert area in northwest Liaoning Province of China.

Morphology and formation mechanism of sand shadow dunes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The formation and development of dunes depend on wind-blown sand movement which is affected by the characteristics of sand material, topography, wind regimes and other factors. In this paper, we investigated two sand shadow dune groups in Shigatse and Za＇gya Zangbo of Tibet and an individual dune in Da Qaidam of Qinghai, and analyzed their topographies and morphologies, and the physical characteristics of the sand, wind regime and sand transport. Formed under harsh conditions behind hills, these mature sand shadow dunes are hundreds of meters long, have significant ridges and crescent dunes downwind, and have a hill pass on one or both sides. Wind tunnel experiments revealed that the hill gap and wind velocity are important factors in the formation of these dunes Sand shadow dunes formed only when the gap spacing is two-thirds of the hill height. When wind velocities are 20 m/s, the sand body is divided into two parts. The hill pass allows the transport of sand by wind, creating a ＂nar- row-pipe effect＂, which causes the transported material to gradually accumulate in the center of the shadow zone. We observed that the following are needed for sand shadow dunes to form： （1） strong winds, sufficient sand, suitable obstacles and a dry climate; （2） one or both sides of the obstacle forming the shadow zone must have a hill pass; and （3） the windward side of the obstacle must have a wide, flat area, providing adequate spacing for wind flow and transport of material and the leeward side must have a sufficiently broad, flat area to allow the release of the transported material. Research results on these newly discovered dunes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau could contribute to the understanding of dune geomorphology.

Effect of the W-beam central guardrails on wind-blown sand deposition on desert expressways in sandy regions

Many desert expressways are affected by the deposition of the wind-blown sand,which might block the movement of vehicles or cause accidents.W-beam central guardrails,which are used to improve the safety of desert expressways,are thought to influence the deposition of the wind-blown sand,but this has yet not to be studied adequately.To address this issue,we conducted a wind tunnel test to simulate and explore how the W-beam central guardrails affect the airflow,the wind-blown sand flux and the deposition of the wind-blown sand on desert expressways in sandy regions.The subgrade model is 3.5 cm high and 80.0 cm wide,with a bank slope ratio of 1:3.The W-beam central guardrails model is 3.7 cm high,which included a 1.4-cm-high W-beam and a 2.3-cm-high stand column.The wind velocity was measured by using pitot-static tubes placed at nine different heights(1,2,3,5,7,10,15,30 and 50 cm)above the floor of the chamber.The vertical distribution of the wind-blown sand flux in the wind tunnel was measured by using the sand sampler,which was sectioned into 20 intervals.In addition,we measured the wind-blown sand flux in the field at K50 of the Bachu-Shache desert expressway in the Taklimakan Desert on 11 May 2016,by using a customized 78-cm-high gradient sand sampler for the sand flux structure test.Obstruction by the subgrade leads to the formation of two weak wind zones located at the foot of the windward slope and at the leeward slope of the subgrade,and the wind velocity on the leeward side weakens significantly.The W-beam central guardrails decrease the leeward wind velocity,whereas the velocity increases through the bottom gaps and over the top of the W-beam central guardrails.The vertical distribution of the wind-blown sand flux measured by wind tunnel follows neither a power-law nor an exponential function when affected by either the subgrade or the W-beam central guardrails.At 0.0H and 0.5H(where H=3.5 cm,which is the height of the subgrade),the sand transport is less at the 3 cm height from the subgrade surface than at the 1 and 5 cm heights as a result of obstruction by the W-beam central guardrails,and the maximum sand transportation occurs at the 5 cm height affected by the subgrade surface.The average saltation height in the presence of the W-beam central guardrails is greater than the subgrade height.The field test shows that the sand deposits on the overtaking lane leeward of the W-beam central guardrails and that the thickness of the deposited sand is determined by the difference in the sand mass transported between the inlet and outlet points,which is consistent with the position of the minimum wind velocity in the wind tunnel test.The results of this study could help us to understand the hazards of the wind-blown sand onto subgrade with the W-beam central guardrails.

Study of Mechanism of the W-OH Sand Fixation

A novel hydrophilic polyurethane (abbreviated as W-OH) was developed and applied as a sustainable sand-fixing material. This paper on the chemical sand fixation mechanism of W-OH discusses the adhesive force between the W-OH solid and sand particles. The solidification mechanism was investigated and the solidifying time was tested. And then the thickness and porosity of the W-OH sand-fixing layer were investigated. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the microstructure of the W-OH sand-fixing layer was examined. The hardness and compressive stress of the sand-fixing specimens were studied at W-OH different concentrations. Finally, the resistance to wind erosion of the W-OH sand-fixing layer was investigated by a wind tunnel test. The results demonstrated that the W-OH aqueous solution had an excellent affinity for water on the surface of the sand particles, and the adhesive force between the W-OH solid and sand was primarily hydrogen bonding, covalent bonds and physical absorption, such as Van Der Waals forces. W-OH is a prepolymer of hydrophilic polyurethane containing groups of -NCO that can quickly react with water and other groups containing active H. The W-OH aqueous solution solidified in the range of 2 min to 15 min. The solidifying time decreased with increasing temperature and concentration. Before solidifying it had a good permeability of sand and the formed sand-fixing layer had a thickness of 8 - 35 mm and a porosity of 25% - 8% at a spraying concentration of 2 - 10 L/m2. The hardness index of the sand-fixing layer was in the range of 21 mm to 28 mm and compressive stress was in the range from 0.21 MPa mm to 1.27 MPa, both of which increased linearly with W-OH concentration. Sand treated by over 3% W-OH concentrations showed excellent resistance to wind/sand erosion of more than 25 m/s.

Sand deposit-detecting method and its application in model test of sand flow

Against the background of the sand-flow foundation treatment engineering of Guangzhou Zhoutouzui variable cross-section immersed tunnel, a kind of sand deposit-detecting method was devised on the basis of full-scale model test of sand-flow method. The real-time data of sand-deposit height and radius were obtained by the self-developed sand-deposit detectors. The test results show that the detecting method is simple and has high precision. In the use of sand-flow method, the sand-carrying capability of fluid is limited, and sand particles are all transported to the sand-deposit periphery through crater, gap and chutes after the sand deposit formed. The diffusion range of the particles outside the sand-deposit does not exceed 2.0 m. Severe sorting of sand particles is not observed because of the unique oblique-layered depositing process. The temporal and spatial distributions of gap and chutes directly affect the sand-deposit expansion, and the expansion trend of the average sand-deposit radius accords with quadratic time-history curve.

可液化地基中隧道上浮的模型试验研究

地下隧道在修建过程中不可避免会穿越可液化地层,在地震作用下会发生砂土液化从而导致结构破坏。以安徽省亳州市汤王大道过河隧道工程为背景,采用室内振动台试验进行缩尺模型的设计与研究,分析地基土体与隧道结构的振动液化响应规律,研究过河隧道工程在地震液化时的上浮变形机理。结果表明:上层土体达到液化时会较下层延迟1.5 s左右,表明上部土体抗剪强度的衰减比下部土体更加明显;土体深度越大,超静孔压上升越快,且峰值越高;振动开始时由于下层土体先液化,会导致一定的向下位移,之后由于浮应力大于有效承载力导致隧道逐渐上浮并趋于稳定,当振动结束后位移的上浮量为8.9 mm。

考虑刀土摩擦的砂土盾构隧道开挖面支护压力计算方法

确定盾构隧道开挖面极限支护压力是隧道工程中的核心问题之一。现有研究一般忽略盾构刀盘与主动极限状态时开挖面前方失稳土体间的摩擦效应,导致计算结果偏保守。为了解决此问题,首先,基于梯形楔形体模型,考虑盾构开挖掌子面与前方被切削土体之间的竖向摩擦力、楔形体与上方土柱之间因相对错动引起的横向摩擦力以及隧道埋深对极限支护压力的影响,推导了砂土地层盾构开挖面的极限支护压力计算公式;其次,通过与其他理论方法及试验结果进行对比,验证了本文方法的合理性;最后,讨论了刀土摩擦力在不同工况下对盾构开挖面极限支护压力的影响规律。研究结果表明:在其他参数不变时,开挖面极限支护压力随着刀土外摩擦角增大而逐渐减小,与刀土外摩擦角近似呈线性关系;刀盘土体间摩擦力对维持盾构开挖面稳定具有有利影响,对开挖面极限支护压力的影响不可忽略;适当增大刀盘与前方土体间的外摩擦角可有效增加开挖面的极限稳定性;刀土摩擦力对浅埋情况的盾构隧道开挖面极限支护压力的影响要明显比深埋情况的影响大,在选择盾构掘进刀具时应重点考虑埋深的影响。

机制砂对隧道衬砌混凝土收缩性能的影响

使用机制砂制备铁路隧道衬砌混凝土是未来发展趋势,衬砌混凝土是隧道工程的重要组成部分,而由于混凝土收缩导致的环向裂缝是其常见缺陷,因此,研究采用机制砂后的衬砌混凝土收缩性能对保障隧道工程质量有重要意义。本研究对强度等级为C40的花岗岩机制砂混凝土(GSC)、凝灰岩机制砂混凝土(TSC)和河砂混凝土(RSC)的工作性能、抗压强度、收缩性能、早期抗裂性能进行了对比试验研究,并结合水分蒸发量和孔结构进行了内在机理分析。研究结果表明:在相同外加剂掺量下,两种机制砂混凝土的工作性能与河砂混凝土相近,较河砂混凝土具有更好的保坍性;机制砂混凝土的抗压强度可以满足设计要求,且凝灰岩机制砂混凝土在各龄期均较河砂混凝土表现出更高的抗压强度;若早期良好养护,机制砂不会增加混凝土的收缩,花岗岩机制砂还能显著降低收缩;若早期缺乏良好养护,两种机制砂均会增加混凝土早期收缩,早期抗裂性能也下降,增加衬砌混凝土环向开裂风险。

富水砂层地铁盾构隧道渣土混合改良的流塑性与渗透性

[目的]盾构在富水砂层中掘进时,易产生刀盘扭矩过高、磨损严重以及螺旋运输机喷涌等问题。为了保证施工的安全性,需对渣土进行改良。[方法]以西安地铁16号线某盾构区间工程为依托,根据砂土地层自稳性差、摩擦性高、渗透率高的特点选取渣土改良剂。通过渣土坍落度试验、渗透试验、现场试验相结合的方式,采用泡沫单独改良、泡沫及膨润土泥浆混合改良两种方案开展富水砂层渣土改良试验研究。[结果及结论]实际盾构掘进施工中,在考虑安全、高效、经济的前提下,结合室内试验所得数据,确定采用膨润土泥浆、泡沫混合改良的方案。当膨润土与水质量比为1/8,发泡液质量分数为3%时,改良剂性能满足施工要求;泡沫单独改良渣土受含水率影响大,含水率越高,泡沫最佳注入率越小。中砂的最佳改良方案是BIR(膨润土泥浆注入比)为10%,FIR(泡沫注入率)为20%~25%;砾砂的最佳改良方案是BIR为10%,FIR为35%~40%。工程实践表明,渣土混合改良效果良好,盾构掘进参数平稳。

地铁隧道砂土劈裂注浆加固机理分析

[目的]地铁隧道砂土在注浆过程中,其砂土应力场与浆液流场存在动态耦合作用。为了提高地铁隧道砂土注浆设计水平,需对浆土耦合效应下的砂土劈裂注浆机理进行研究。[方法]将劈裂注浆扩散过程简化为对称扩张过程,以宾汉流体为代表对浆液流场的基本特征进行分析;将砂层视作线弹性变形的理想材料,采用均质各向同性的弹性假定,推导了劈裂通道宽度、浆液压力的时空变化方程;通过调节浆液黏度、砂土刚度等参数,对砂土劈裂注浆的基本规律进行了探讨。根据浆土耦合效应下砂土劈裂注浆的基本规律,对重庆地铁10号线二期兰花路站—后堡站区间中粗砂-粉土地层下的砂土劈裂注浆进行了现场验证,得到了主浆脉长度和次浆脉长度。[结果及结论]浆液压力在注浆起始和末尾阶段变化较为剧烈,而在中间阶段较为稳定。浆液黏度、砂土压缩模量是影响劈裂扩散规律的重要因素:浆液黏度和砂土压缩模量越小,浆液扩散半径越大;砂土压缩模量越大,劈裂通道宽度越小。工程验证发现,浆脉长度开挖检测值与理论计算值存在17%~22%的误差,表明该理论模型具有一定的工程应用价值。

富水砂层盾构下穿高速铁路控制技术研究

以西安轨道交通地铁10号线东风路站—学府路站区间下穿大西、郑西客专高速铁路土压平衡盾构施工为背景,基于盾构试验段数据研究土压平衡盾构在富水砂层中下穿掘进参数及控制措施。根据现场盾构下穿既有高速铁路路段的隧道埋深与地质条件,通过200m盾构试验段,确定盾构下穿施工具体掘进施工参数。其中控制掘进速度为35~40mm/min、出土量54~60m^(3)、二次注浆压力0.4~0.5MPa、下穿注浆量7.8~8.5m^(3)/环和土仓压力1.0~1.2bar,下穿过程中同步注浆、二次注浆要及时跟进。