Experiments on snowdrifts around two adjacent cube models based on a combined snow-wind facility.

This study conducted experiments on the wind-induced snow drifting around two adjacent cube models, using artificial snow in an open air snow-wind combined experimental facility constructed at the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). In particular, 20 experiments were conducted on two adjacent cubes with three different wind directions, three different wind speeds, and four different spacings. They were compared with contrast experiments with a single cube under the same inflow condition. The cube models were two wooden cubes having dimensions of 0.5 × 0.5 × 0.5 m. The drift process of natural snowfall was simulated by scattering snow particles. After snowfall for 25 min in each experiment, the snowdrifts were measured by surveying approximately 300 points around the cubes. Contour maps of the normalized snow depths were drawn and analyzed. The experiments show that the wind direction and speed have a certain influence on a snowdrift. Based on the wind-snow movement mechanism, the relationship between the snowdrift pattern around two cubes and the snowdrift pattern around a single cube was explored. Under the same condition, the snowdrift pattern around the multiple cubes can be deduced from the snowdrift pattern around the single cube. The snowdrift pattern around the downstream cube depends on its spatial position relative to the upstream cube. Moreover, the snowdrift between two adjacent cubes seems to be dependent on a funneling effect. • The process of wind-induced snow drifting was simulated by scattering artificial snow particles in an open air snow-wind combined experimental facility. • The influence of wind direction and wind speed on the snowdrift pattern around the cubes was studied. • Based on wind-snow movement mechanism, the relationship between snowdrift pattern around two cubes and snowdrift pattern around single cube was explored. Under the same conditions, the snowdrift pattern around the multiple cubes can be deduced from the snowdrift pattern around the single cube. • The effect of funneling has a profound effect on the snowdrift pattern between two adjacent cubes. • The snowdrift pattern around the downstream cube depends on its spatial position relative to the upstream cube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]