Eur. Phys. J. E (2019) 42: 45
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2019-11809-8

Regular Article

Numerical simulation of sand transfer in wind storm using the Eulerian-Lagrangian two-phase flow model

School of Railway Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), 16846-13114, Tehran, Iran

^* e-mail: mrtalaee@iust.ac.ir

Received: 22 December 2018
Accepted: 11 March 2019
Published online: 16 April 2019

Abstract

In this paper a two-dimensional gas-solid flow model is used to investigate the sand particles carrying velocity of the Iran eastern desert area around the railway track as a case study. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and Discrete Phase Method (DPM) are used to simulate the characteristic movement of sand particles in wind flow. A random sample is gathered from the sand near the railway in Iran deserts. The sample is classified based on weight and diameter according to AASHTOO T27 and sand distribution is determined. Using simulations, the carrying velocity of sand in each category in wind storm is determined. Finally, the sand distribution of the sample is imported to the model by the Rosin-Rummler dissipation model. The behavior of sand particles in storm considering wind blowing scheme of desert is studied parametrically. The results can be used for estimating the sand mitigation of a special desert and land desertification control around railway tracks.