A Numerical Study of the Effect of Vegetative Windbreak on Wind Erosion over Complex Terrain

Abstract

Wind erosion is a typical issue for stone carvings in northwest China caves, and windbreaks such as shelterbelts have proven to be effective in mitigating wind erosion. This study has the main purpose of examining the effect of shelterbelts on alleviating the wind erosion degree of stone carvings. The applicability of the canopy model for reproducing the aerodynamic effects based on the realizable k–ε and LES model was examined by using a validation metric. The shelterbelt structure has been discussed with the goal of finding the optimum canopy structure to provide a guideline for designing shelterbelts. Compared with the LES model, the realizable k–ε model was adopted in this study based on its comprehensive performance. The results show that a canopy with porosity of φ = 30% and a width of 0.3 to 0.5 H has better sheltering efficiency. Compared to the case with no shelterbelt, the wind speed amplification coefficient decreased by 43%, and the significant decrease in the value of the wind speed amplification coefficient in the primary-harm wind direction demonstrates the effectiveness of the shelterbelt. By exploring preventive protection technology in the context of historical stone carving, this study can promote the practice of scientific and technological protection of cultural relics.