Finite element analysis of air flow around permeable sand fences

A numerical study of the turbulent air flow in a trench trap and the turbulent flow around a permeable sand fence is reported in this paper. The two-dimensional modified k–ε turbulence model proposed by Kato and Launder is used to predict the turbulent characteristics of the air flow. The discretization method for the governing equations is the three-step Taylor/Galerkin finite element method proposed by the authors. For the flow in a trench trap the numerical results are compared with experimental data obtained under realistic conditions using a large wind tunnel. For the air flow around a permeable sand fence a pressure loss model is used to represent the effect of the porosity of the fence on the flow field. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.