scholarly journals Wind and seed: a conceptual model of shape-formation in the cushion plant Azorella Selago

2020 ◽  
Vol 455 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 339-366
Author(s):  
Madeleine L. Combrinck ◽  
Thomas M. Harms ◽  
Melodie A. McGeoch ◽  
Janine Schoombie ◽  
Peter Christiaan le Roux
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Sediment Accumulation ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Sediment Deposition ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Cushion Plant ◽  
Cushion Plants ◽  
Stem Mortality

Abstract Aims The sub-Antarctic cushion plant, Azorella selago, is usually hemispherical when small but frequently crescent-shaped when larger. Spatial variation in wind speed and in air-borne seed and sediment deposition is examined to determine if wind scouring and deposition patterns could contribute to the development of non-hemispherical shapes in cushion plants. Methods Computational fluid dynamic analyses were conducted for hemispherical and crescent-shaped cushion plants parameterizing models with data from A. selago habitats on Marion Island. Numerical data were contextualized with field observations to arrive at a conceptual model for shape development. Results Airflow modelling showed that both wind scouring and seed deposition of the commonly co-occurring grass Agrostis magellanica are greater on the windward side of the plant. By contrast, heavier sediment particles are predominantly deposited on the leeward side of plants, leading to burial of lee-side A. selago stems. This sediment accumulation may initiate the development of the crescent-shape in hemispherical plants by increasing stem mortality on the plant’s leeward edge. Once developed, the crescent-shape is probably self-reinforcing because it generates greater air recirculation (and lower air velocities) which enhances further deposition and establishment of A. magellanica grasses in the lee of the crescent. The conceptual model consists therefore of three stages namely, (1) negligible air recirculation, (2) sediment deposition and grass establishment, and (3) differential cushion growth. Conclusion This conceptual model of plant shape development may explain the occurrence and orientation of crescent-shaped cushion plants and highlights how predicted changes in wind patterns may affect vegetation patterns.

Investigation on the drag effect of a rolling element confined in the cavity of a cylindrical roller bearing

2021 ◽  
pp. 135065012110260
Author(s):  
Wenjun Gao ◽  
Shuo Zhang ◽  
Xiaohang Li ◽  
Zhenxia Liu
Keyword(s):  
Open Space ◽  
Roller Bearing ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Drag Effect ◽  
Rolling Element ◽  
Cylindrical Roller Bearing ◽  
Cylindrical Roller

In cylindrical roller bearings, the drag effect may be induced by the rolling element translating in a fluid environment of the bearing cavity. In this article, the computational fluid dynamics method and experimental tests are employed to analyse its flow characteristics and pressure distribution. The results indicate that the pressure difference between the windward side and the leeward side of the cylinder is raised in view of it blocking the flow field. Four whirl vortexes are formed in four outlets of two wedge-shaped areas between the front part of the cylindrical surface and adjacent walls for the cylinder of L/ D = 1.5 at Re = 4.5 × 103. Vortex shedding is found in the direction of cylinder axis at Re = 4.5 × 104. The relationship between drag coefficient and Reynolds number is illustrated, obviously higher than that of the two-dimensional cylinder in open space.

scholarly journals 2.5D Flexible Wind Sensor Using Differential Plate Capacitors

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 3101
Author(s):  
Yu Wan ◽  
Zhenxiang Yi
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Direction ◽  
Parallel Plate ◽  
Electrode Array ◽  
Copper Electrode ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Electrode Layer ◽  
Young’S Moduli ◽  
Speed Up

In this paper, a novel 2.5-dimensional (2.5D) flexible wind sensor is proposed based on four differential plate capacitors. This design consists of a windward pillar, two electrode layers, and a support layer, which are all made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with different Young’s moduli. A 2 mm × 2 mm copper electrode array is located on each electrode layer, forming four parallel plate capacitors as the sensitive elements. The wind in the xy-plane tilts the windward pillar, decreasing two capacitances on the windward side and increasing two capacitances on the leeward side. The wind in the z-axis depresses the windward pillar, resulting in an increase of all four capacitances. Experiments demonstrate that this sensor can measure the wind speed up to 23.9 m/s and the wind direction over the full 360° range of the xy-plane. The sensitivities of wind speed are close to 4 fF·m−1·s and 3 fF·m−1·s in the xy-plane and z-axis, respectively.

scholarly journals Computational Analysis to Factor Wind into the Design of an Architectural Environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassam Nasarullah Chaudhry ◽  
John Kaiser Calautit ◽  
Ben Richard Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Power Generation ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Continuity Equations ◽  
Prevailing Wind Direction

The effect of wind distribution on the architectural domain of the Bahrain Trade Centre was numerically analysed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Using the numerical data, the power generation potential of the building-integrated wind turbines was determined in response to the prevailing wind direction. The three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations along with the momentum and continuity equations were solved for obtaining the velocity and pressure field. Simulating a reference wind speed of 6 m/s, the findings from the study quantified an estimate power generation of 6.4 kW indicating a capacity factor of 2.9% for the benchmark model. At the windward side of the building, it was observed that the layers of turbulence intensified in inverse proportion to the height of the building with an average value of 0.45 J/kg. The air velocity was found to gradually increase in direct proportion to the elevation with the turbine located at higher altitude receiving maximum exposure to incoming wind. This work highlighted the potential of using advanced computational fluid dynamics in order to factor wind into the design of any architectural environment.

Air movement and heat loss from sheep. II. Thermal insulation of fleece in wind

1980 ◽  
Vol 209 (1175) ◽  
pp. 209-217 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Diffusivity ◽  
Heat Loss ◽  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
General Relation ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Sensible Heat ◽  
Bulk Resistance ◽  
Air Movement ◽  
Dimensionless Constant

Penetration of an animal’s coat by wind reduces its thermal insulation and increases heat loss to the environment. From studies of the sensible heat loss from a life-sized model sheep covered with fleece, the average fleece resistance r¯ f (s cm -1 ) was related to windspeed u (m s -1 ) by 1/ r¯ f ( u ) = l/ r¯ f (0) + cu , where c is a dimensionless constant. As c is expected to be inversely proportional to coat depth Î , the more general relation k¯ ( u ) = k¯ (0) + c'u was evaluated, where k¯ = Î / r¯ f is the thermal diffusivity (cm 2 s -1 ) of the fleece and c' = cÎ is another constant (cm). The orientation of the model to the wind had little effect on the bulk resistance of the fleece, but the resistance on the windward side was substantially lower than on the leeward side.

scholarly journals Dust-related impacts of mining operations on rangeland vegetation and soil: a case study in Yazd province, Iran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab IbrahimPour ◽  
Alireza KhavaninZadeh ◽  
Ruhollah Taghizadeh mehrjardi ◽  
Hans De Boeck ◽  
Alvina Gul
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Microbial Respiration ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Soil Microbial Respiration ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Destructive mining operations are affecting large areas of natural ecosystems, especially in arid lands. The present study aims at investigating the impact of iron mine exploitation on vegetation and soil in Nodoushan (Yazd province, central Iran). Based on the dominant wind, topography, slope, vegetation and soil of the area, soil and vegetation parameters close to ​the mine were recorded and analyzed according to the distance from the mine. In order to obtain the vegetation cover, a transect and plot on the windward and leeward side of the mine, with 100 m intervals and three replicates at each sampling location was used, yielding 96 soil samples. The amount of dust on the vegetation, the seed weight and seed germination rate of Artemisia sp. as the dominant species within the area, and the soil microbial respiration were measured. The relationship between vegetation cover and distance from the mine was not linear, which was due to an interplay between pollution from the mine and local grazing, while other factors did increase or decrease linearly. The results showed that, as the distance from the mine increased, the weight of 1000 seeds of Artemisia sp. was significantly increased from 271 to 494 mg and seed germination rate and soil microbial respiration were significantly increased from 11.7 to 48.4 % and from 4.5 to 5.9 mg CO2 g− 1 soil day− 1 respectively, while the amount of dust significantly decreased from 43.5 to 6 mg (g plant)−1 between the distance of 100 to 600 m from the mine in the leeward direction. A similar trend was observed in the windward side, though negative effects were lower compared to the same distance along the leeward sample locations. The direct and indirect effects on plant growth and health from mining impacts generally decreased linearly with increasing distance from the mine, up to at least 600 m. Our study serves as a showcase for the potential of bio-indicators as a cost-effective method for assessing impacts of mining activities on the surrounding environment.

scholarly journals Topographical Influence on Precipitation Distribution in Different Ranges of Western Himalayas

1995 ◽  
Vol 26 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 259-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratap Singh ◽  
K. S. Ramasastri ◽  
Naresh Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Precipitation Intensity ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Western Himalayas ◽  
Precipitation Distribution ◽  
Post Monsoon ◽  
Seasonal Characteristics ◽  
Annual Distribution

Seasonal and annual distribution of rainfall and snowfall with elevation has been studied for outer, middle and greater Himalayan ranges of Chenab basin in the western Himalayas. Rainfall and snowfall exhibited different trends with elevation on the windward and leeward slopes of the three ranges of Himalayas. Seasonal characteristics of rainfall have shown a spill over effect on leeward side during winter, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons in the outer Himalayas. The role of orography in the middle Himalayas was found to be more pronounced for both rainfall and snowfall in comparison to other ranges of Himalayas. Variation of snowfall with elevation was more prominent in comparison to variation of rainfall. In the greater Himalayan range it is found that rainfall descreases exponentially with elevation and snowfall increases linearly. Rainfall becomes negligible at elevations beyond 4,000 m on the windward side of the greater Himalayan range. Efforts have also been made to explain whether variation in precipitation is due to changes in precipitation intensity or number of precipitation days or a combination of both.

scholarly journals Numerical Assessment on Rotation Effect of the Stagnation Surface on Nanoparticle Deposition in Flame Synthesis

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1361
Author(s):  
Lilin Hu ◽  
Zhu Miao ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Hai Zhang ◽  
Hairui Yang
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Deposition Time ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Rotation Effect ◽  
Nanoparticle Deposition ◽  
Numerical Assessment ◽  
O2 Concentration ◽  
Rotating Surface ◽  
Cfd Method

The effect of rotation of the stagnation surface on the nanoparticle deposition in the flame stabilizing on a rotating surface (FSRS) configuration was numerically assessed using CFD method. The deposition properties including particle trajectories, deposition time, temperature and surrounding O2 concentration between the flame and stagnation surface were examined. The results revealed that although flame position is insensitive to the surface rotation, the temperature and velocity fields are remarkably affected, and the deposition properties become asymmetric along the burner centerline when the surface rotates at a fast speed (rotational speed ω ≥ 300 rpm). Particles moving on the windward side have similar deposition properties when the surface rotates slowly, but the off-center particles on the leeward side have remarkable longer deposition time, lower deposition temperature, and lower surrounding O2 concentration, and they even never deposit on the surface when the surface rotates at a high speed. The rotation effect of the stagnation surface can be quantitatively described by an analogous Karlovitz number (Ka’), which is defined as the ratio of characteristic residence time of moving surface to the aerodynamics time induced by flame stretch. For high quality semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) films, it is suggested that Ka’ ≥ 1 should be kept.

scholarly journals Effect of windbreaks on wind speed reduction and soil protection against wind erosion

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 128-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Řeháček ◽  
T. Khel ◽  
J. Kučera ◽  
J. Vopravil ◽  
M. Petera
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Wind Erosion ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Polynomial Equation ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
Speed Reduction ◽  
Optical Porosity ◽  
Cultivated Plant

Windbreaks form efficient soil protection against wind erosion particularly at the time when soil cover is not protected by the cultivated plant vegetation cover. The objective of this research was to evaluate windbreaks efficiency in terms of wind speed reduction. Wind speed along the windbreaks was measured in the cadastral areas of Dobrovíz and Středokluky (Czech Republic, Central Europe). The measurement was carried out by 4 stations placed at windward side (1 station at the distance of 3 times the height of the windbreak) and at leeward side of the windbreak (3 stations at the distance of 3, 6, and 9 times the height of the windbreak). Each station contained 2 anemometers situated 0.5 and 1 m above surface. The character of windbreak was described by terrestrial photogrammetry method as the value of optical porosity from the photo documentation of the windbreak at the time of field measurement. A significant dependence between the value of optical porosity and efficiency of windbreak emerged from the results. The correlation coefficient between optical porosity and wind speed reduction was in the range of 0.842 to 0.936 (statistical significance more than 95%). A significant effect of windbreak on airflow reduction was proven on the leeward side of windbreak in a belt corresponding to approximately six times the height of the windbreaks depending on the optical porosity and it was expressed by a polynomial equation.  

Application of harmonic balance method to aerodynamic characteristics prediction of spinning vehicle

2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-357
Author(s):  
Tianyu Lu ◽  
Juanmian Lei ◽  
Xiaosheng Wu ◽  
Jintao Yin
Keyword(s):  
Computational Efficiency ◽  
Harmonic Balance ◽  
Harmonic Balance Method ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Balance Method ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Aerodynamic Coefficients ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Side Flow

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the ability of the harmonic balance method for predicting the aerodynamic characteristics of rigid finned spinning vehicle. Design/methodology/approach The aerodynamic characteristics of a rigid four-finned spinning vehicle at Mach number 2.5 and angle of attack of 20 degrees are simulated using the harmonic balance method and the unsteady time-accurate approach based on the dual-time method. The numerical results are analyzed, and the computed aerodynamic coefficients of the harmonic balance method are compared with those of the dual-time method. The influence of the number of harmonics is presented. The computed Magnus force and moment coefficients are compared with the experimental data. The flow fields at different roll angles are presented. The computational efficiency of harmonic balance method is analyzed. Findings The results show that the aerodynamic coefficients of spinning vehicle could be predicted by the harmonic balance method with reasonable accuracy compared with the dual-time method. For the harmonic balance method, the accuracy of the computed leeward side flow is relatively poor compared with that of the computed windward side flow. Meanwhile, the computational efficiency is influenced by initial guess and the intensity of unsteady effect. Practical implications The harmonic balance method could be used for the aerodynamic prediction of spinning vehicle, which may improve the efficiency of vehicle design. Originality/value This paper presents the results of the harmonic balance method for simulating the aerodynamic characteristics of finned spinning vehicle. The accuracy and efficiency of the method are analyzed.

Experimental Research on Durability of Concrete of Transmission Lines in Wuhu Area

2014 ◽  
Vol 1065-1069 ◽  
pp. 2001-2004
Author(s):  
Zhao Qing Zhu ◽  
Lin Xu ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Zhi Wei Han
Keyword(s):  
Bond Strength ◽  
Transmission Lines ◽  
Concrete Strength ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Concrete Deterioration ◽  
Rebar Corrosion ◽  
Corrosive Environments

The concrete used in transmission lines are basically for foundations. The foundation concrete of transmission lines in corrosive environments has shown serious deterioration, which usually caused by concrete deterioration, rebar corrosion, degradation of bond strength between rebar and concrete due to various corrosive effects. Field tests are carried out in Wuhu area to research the durability of foundation concrete of transmission lines. And test results show that the concrete strength in the air is a litter higher than underground and the carbonization depth at the windward side is the largest of each foundation and the leeward side is the smallest, while those underground are close to zero.

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