The thesis presents a systematic experimental and numerical study on the interactions among porous fence, airflow, and windblown snowdrifts, a knowledge that will contribute to optimize the performance of porous wind shielding system in Cold Regions. A comprehensive review of the concepts, theories, techniques, and key findings associated with the research work has been undertaken. The key technical parameters influencing fence performance have been systematically studied by means of wind tunnel experimental investigations and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The study has found that porosity is the most influential structural parameter affecting the performance of porous fences in many aspects. Fence height stands a significant positive position in terms of its performance. It was found that fence performance is not sensitive to the changes of approaching atmospheric airflow velocity. Nevertheless, a bottom gap can improve snow fence trap efficiency. All of those findings agree with most of the findings of other researchers, which affirms that the research methodology adopted in this research is sound. Physical experimental work was performed to assess the reliability and credibility of the numerical models. Those models have been intentionally simplified, which made them easier to construct and quicker to obtain numerical solutions at a lower computational cost. Furthermore, the numerical models demonstrate the level of competence acquired through this research that is implemented in the optimisation of fence design. Special attention has been paid to the issues where elaborate research work has not been systematically reached in the open literature, this includes areas such as the effects of arrangement of porous holes, fence surface shear, and directions of wind load with respect to the fence, etc. Correlation between the reattachment length, the shelter distance, and the creation and distribution of fence surface shear is reported, to the author's knowledge, for the first time in the open literature. General guidelines for the design of shelters based on porous fences have been established through this study. For example, the desirable size of hole range should be identified beforehand, and porous holes with sharp angular corners should usually be avoided in the fence design. It is recommended to place the fence within an angle of 30° to the wind load, where the effective shelter distance can be estimated in a linearized equation, and the normal drag coefficient can be described as a function of cos2θ. Optimal design of the arrangement of porous holes will maximize the fence performance, especially when the close fence environment is of concern. Although the definition of fence effective zone is still vague in the research field, the key factors influencing the fence effective zone have been investigated by evaluating the reduction of wind velocity leeward of the fence in this thesis. It is found that the fence effective zone is not sensitive to the change of approaching airflow velocity, and that increasing fence height will increase the physical size of the fence effective zone, but not in a proportional manner. It is also concluded that fence effective zone will be significantly reduced when the non-normal wind load is inclined at an angle greater than 30° to the fence. The effective zone increases effectively when the fence porosity is optimal. In contrast to the majority of published research work, the transient snow transport model presented in this work considers the snow transport rate as a whole without distinguishing the rate in saltation and suspension layer. The numerical study indicated that the position of the snow crest is mainly determined by the fence height, while porosity and bottom gap mainly affect the downwind deposition length. The optimal porosity for snow fences is in the range of 0.4 to 0.5, which is greater than the one for wind fences, which lies in the range from 0.25 to 0.35. Two snow crests have been observed leeward the fence at the onset of snow deposition, when the fence was placed without a bottom gap to the snow ground. This finding has not been encountered in any of the reported research work. Wind tunnel simulations of snowdrift around the fences have marginally under-predicted the sizes of snow deposition. The numerical predictions were quantitatively and qualitatively in good agreement with the field observations. This incompetence of wind tunnel experiments on porous fences implies that numerical modelling can play a more important role in snow fence research.

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In considering methods of reducing the emission of carbon dioxide; there is a growing interest for use of wind power at domestic building in U.K. But the technology of wind turbines development in building environment is more complicated than in open areas. Small wind turbines in suburban areas have been reported as having unsatisfactory energy output, but it is not clear whether this is due to insufficient wind resource or low turbine efficiency. The aim of this research is to discover whether the wind resource in suburban areas is large enough for small wind turbines to produce a useful energy output.Historical wind data and manufacturers' turbine characteristics were used to estimate the hourly wind speed and energy output for different U.K. cities, terrain zones and turbines. It was found that for turbines at 10 m height in suburban areas and depending on city, the annual wind energy conversion efficiency ranged from about 20 to 40%, while the number of turbines required to produce the annual average electricity consumption of a UK dwelling ranged from about 6 for the smallest turbine (5.3 m² rotor area) to about 1 for the largest (35.26 m² rotor area).This analysis was based on average conditions, but the wind speed near buildings can vary considerably from one point to another. In order to predict the performance of wind turbines more accurately, the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) of suburban areas was simulated in both CFD and wind tunnel models, and models of groups of semi-detached and terraced houses were set in this ABL. It was found that at 10 m height in the area of the houses, the turbulence intensity was too high for satisfactory operation of wind turbines (19 to 35%) while the mean velocity at different points ranged from 86 to 108% of the 10m reference velocity. At 30m height the turbulence intensity was satisfactory (less than 19 %), while the mean velocity ranged from 92 to 103 % of the 30 m reference velocity. It is concluded that for wind turbines in suburban areas, at 10 m height the wind speed is too low and the turbulence is too high for satisfactory performance, while at 30 m height the wind speed is much higher and the turbulence is low enough.

Faz-se notória a ideia de que o crescimento das cidades e o consequente aumento no adensamento das mesmas é, nos dias atuais, um fato inevitável; e que o homem, ao modificar o meio natural, o faz quase sempre de forma danosa. Formação de ilhas de calor, aumento do consumo de energia, dificuldade na dispersão de poluentes, diminuição do ângulo de visão do céu, diminuição da taxa de permeabilidade do solo entre outros, são problemas frequentemente relacionados com a densificação e verticalização das cidades. A utilização de modelos reduzidos para simulações experimentais em túneis de vento das condições naturais de ventilação se mostram eficazes, além de reduzir custos em pesquisas nesta área. Embasando-se em tais pressupostos, o presente trabalho pretende verificar as alterações das características dos escoamentos de vento provocadas por distintos padrões de ocupação do solo urbano no bairro do Altiplano Cabo Branco, na cidade de João Pessoa-PB. A área em estudo atravessa um processo acelerado de modificação nas suas características de ocupação urbana, conduzido pelas alterações dos indicadores urbanísticos locais, antes mais restritivos, possibilitando agora edificações com gabaritos em altura significativamente maiores do que os anteriormente observados no local. Parte-se então da hipótese de que o processo de verticalização resultante deste crescimento é capaz de alterar os escoamentos de ventos não apenas nas áreas onde este ocorre, mas também em áreas contíguas. No desenvolvimento deste trabalho, de caráter experimental, foram avaliados dois modelos de adensamentos urbanos para a área de estudo O primeiro deles reproduz a ocupação da área conforme se encontrava antes de mudanças ocorridas nos indicadores urbanísticos para o local. O segundo apresenta a configuração atual de ocupação da área, delineada pela legislação em vigor. Para viabilizar esta avaliação serão realizados ensaios no Túnel de Vento de retorno fechado, Professor Joaquim Blessmann, do Laboratório de Aerodinâmica das Construções da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, utilizando maquetes (modelos) em escala reduzida e observando os requerimentos necessários estabelecidos para este padrão de estudo experimental. Foram utilizados nos ensaios para cada uma das duas configurações de vizinhança dois ângulos de ataque de vento, 150 e 90 graus, tomando como referência o atlas de vento do local de estudo. A partir da análise dos resultados obtidos é possível concluir que a verticalização, da maneira como propõe legislação atual para a área, não apresenta perdas significativas no que se refere aos escoamentos (ventos) quando comparada com o padrão de ocupação anterior sem os edifícios altos. As áreas adjacentes também não sofrem maiores prejuízos no que se refere aos escoamentos quando comparados os dois modelos. / What is worth elucidating is the idea about city expansion and consequent increasing effects of the densification is, now are days, an unavoidable fact; and that human, by modifying the natural environment, does so always in a destructive way. Formation of heat island, increase of the energy consumption, difficulty in the dispersion of pollutants, reduction in the sky view angle, diminution of the level of soil permeability among others, are problem frequently related to densification and verticalization of cities. The use of reduced models for experimental simulation in wind tunnel considering natural conditions of ventilation prove to be effective, apart from low down cost of experiments in this area of research. Based on such assumption, the aim of this research was to verify the alterations of wind flow characteristics provoked on distinct occupation pattern of urban soil in the district of Altiplano Cabo Branco, in the city of João Pesssoa-PB. The studied site passed through a fast process of physical modification in its urban occupation characteristics, conducted by local urban indicators, which was earlier more restrictive, presently permitting building with considerable standard that are higher than those, which were formerly observed on site. Based on the assumption that the process of verticalization as a product of growth may alter the wind flow not only in the areas where it occurs but also in adjacent areas In developing this work, experimentally, two models of urban concentrations were examined on the study area. The first was reproduced on the occupation of the area as it was founded before the changes in the local urban indicators. The second shows the current configuration of occupation of the area outlined by the current legislation. To make this assessment tests were carried out in the Boundary layer wind tunnel, Professor Joaquim Blessmann, of Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, by use of model building of reduced scale and observing the necessary requirements established for this standard experimental study. Two angles of attack of wind were utilized in the two experiments, 150 and 90 degrees, with reference to the wind atlas of site of study. From the result of this analysis we conclude that virtualization of the occupation proposed by the current proposed legislation for the site does not present significant losses when compared with the previous standard of occupation lacking the tall buildings. Adjacent areas do not affected by losses in relation to the wind flow of the two models that was compared.

The master's thesis deals with the aerodynamic interaction od two vehicles, modelling in CFD software, how the vehicle behaves in leeward.

The circulation control system onboard Cal Poly's Advanced Model for Extreme Lift and Improved Aeroacoustics was a critical component of a highly complex wind tunnel model produced in order to fulfill the requirements of a NASA Research Announcement awarded to David Marshall of the Aerospace Engineering Department. The model was based on a next generation, 150 passenger, regional, cruise efficient, short take-off and landing concept aircraft that achieved high lift through circulation control wings and over-the-wing mounted engines. The wind tunnel model was 10-ft in span, used turbine propulsion simulators, and had a functioning circulation control system driven from tunnel supplied high pressure air. Wind tunnel test results will be compiled into an open-source database intended for validation of predictive tools whose purpose is to advance the state- of-the-art in predictive capabilities for the next generation aircraft configurations. The model's circulation control system produced highly directional, nonuniform flow, and required significant modification in order to generate flow suitable for representation in predictive software. The effort and methods used to generate uniform flow along the circulation control slots is detailed herein. Additionally the results of the system characterization are presented and include a thorough analysis of the slot height, the wing symmetry, and total pressure at the circulation control jet exit. These datasets are intended to aid in making adjustments to the simulation such that it accurately reflects the condition at which the model was tested. Many flow visualization results from the wind tunnel test are also presented to serve as a medium of comparison for results from predictive tools. Oil flow visualization was conducted at many test conditions and provides insight to AMELIA's surface flow in blown and unblown regions. Of particular interest were streamlines at the wingblend, which exhibited some outboard turning, and streamlines on the lower surface where the leading edge stagnation point was investigated. Smoke flow visualization was also utilized to explore the flowfield. The deflection of a individual streamline, under the influence of a changing discharge coefficient as investigated along with the discharge coefficients effect on the extended flowfield. Collectively, the images depict the massive augmentation of the flowfield caused by the presence of the circulation control wing.

An experimental study has been conducted to develop a process allowing the creation of biologically accurate aerodynamic test models mimicking the slotted primary feather geometry of the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). Preserved examples of both a full Brown Pelican wing and a single primary feather were 3D scanned and digitally reconstructed using a combination of MATLAB and CAD software. The final model was then 3D printed as a collection of smaller components using a LulzBot TAZ 6 printer and Taulman3D T-Glase PET filament. After using various surface finishing techniques to improve the finish of all 3D printed parts, an assembly was designed to mount the model in the low speed wind tunnel at the California Polytechnic State University. Prior to aerodynamic testing, airfoil sections of the pelican wing were generated in CAD and several common airfoil measurements and characteristics were investigated. At a flow velocity of 5 m/s (Re ~1.21 x 105), wind tunnel smoke and laser visualization testing highlighted the vortex generation of multiple primary feathers, as well as large-scale flow deviations in the vicinity of the feathers. A total pressure rake and total pressure probe were used to create detailed plots of the ratio of the local velocity to free-stream velocity (Vx/Vx∞) at two planes downstream of the model, which revealed vortex positioning consistent with that predicted by smoke visualization testing and provided a metric by which to evaluate the relative strength of each vortex. The model creation process and wind tunnel testing results outlined here provide a strong foundation for future investigations into the potential aerodynamic benefits provided by the slotted primary feather geometry employed by the Brown Pelican and other large gliding avian species.

The master's thesis deals with the aerodynamic interaction od two vehicles, modelling in CFD software, how the vehicle behaves in leeward.

Tato práce se zabývá měřením aerodynamických charakteristik modelu závodního vozu Formula SAE v aerodynamickém tunelu, v měřítku 1:4. V první části je představen projekt Formula SAE a popsána role aerodynamiky v rámci této soutěže. Následuje přehled teoretického pozadí, které je relevantní k provedenému experimentu. Ve druhé části práce je popsán samotný experiment a prezentovány jeho výsledky. Součástí je návrh, výroba a kalibrace šestikomponentní tenzometrické váhy pro měření aerodynamického zatížení. Testy v aerodynamickém tunelu byly provedeny ve čtyřech konfiguracích, aby bylo možné určit vliv přítlačných křídel a podlahy s difuzorem na výsledné aerodynamické charakteristiky vozu.

In this study, CFD simulations of a complete truck are carried out to investigate the effect of altered simulation settings at cold climatic conditions. The aim of this study is to obtain knowledge through CFD simulations performed on a selected driving condition namely at a vehicle speed of 93 kph, an ambient temperature of -20 °C and for an engine operating at 25 % load. Data from measurement carried out in a climatic wind tunnel is available and utilized as boundary conditions for the simulations.The simulations are performed under steady state conditions utilizing the commercial software STAR-CCM+. The first simulation case (reference simulation case) is constructed through java macro-scripts as per the standard VTM settings at Scania. The results from the simulations are compared with the measurement data utilizing temperature validation probes. These probes are located around the engine and measure the air temperature in the underhood engine compartment. The results from the first simulation case show that the temperature of each probe located in front of the engine and above the engine agrees well with the measured probe temperatures. But the temperature of the remaining probes show larger differences with the measured probe temperatures. To investigate the larger differences in probe temperatures, additional simulations are carried out by changing specific simulation settings. For instance, this is achieved by including thermal radiation in the physics continua. Finally, a simulation of engine load of 100 % is carried out and the results from the simulation are compared with the measurement from the same engine load as well as the results from the measurement and simulation of 25 % engine load. The results from all the simulations indicate that additional boundaryconditions and/or different methodologies need to be explored to better replicate the cold climatic conditions in the simulations.