The distribution of velocity and energy of saltating sand grains in a wind tunnel

Sand transport by wind is a special case of two-phase flow of gas and solids, with saltating grains accounting for about 75% of the transport rate. This form of flow is not only the main external agent moulding aeolian landforms but also the motive force responsible for transport, sorting and deposition of aeolian sediments. High-speed multiflash photography is an effective method of studying the distribution of velocity and energy of saltating grains within the boundary layer of wind tunnel. The experimental wind shear velocities were set at 0.63, 0.64, 0.74 and 0.81 ms −1. The statistical study of the results showed that there is a power function relation between mean velocity and height of saltating grains. As the height is divided into 0.5-cm intervals, the sand grain velocities at various levels are consistent with the Pearson VII distribution pattern. The variations in kinetic energy and total energy of sand grains with height accord with the pulse peak modified with power term (Pulsepow) law; the maximum values occur at heights of 6 cm or so and tend to shift upward with increasing wind velocity.