title: Saltation of non-spherical sand particles.
abstract: Saltation is an important geological process and the primary source of atmospheric mineral dust aerosols. Unfortunately, no studies to date have been able to precisely reproduce the saltation process because of the simplified theoretical models used. For example, sand particles in most of the existing wind sand movement models are considered to be spherical, the effects of the sand shape on the structure of the wind sand flow are rarely studied, and the effect of mid-air collision is usually neglected. In fact, sand grains are rarely round in natural environments. In this paper, we first analyzed the drag coefficients, drag forces, and starting friction wind speeds of sand grains with different shapes in the saltation process, then established a sand saltation model that considers the coupling effect between wind and the sand grains, the effect of the mid-air collision of sand grains, and the effect of the sand grain shape. Based on this model, the saltation process and sand transport rate of non-spherical sand particles were simulated. The results show that the sand shape has a significant impact on the saltation process; for the same wind speed, the sand transport rates varied for different shapes of sand grains by as much as several-fold. Therefore, sand shape is one of the important factors affecting wind-sand movement.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China (Lanzhou University), The Ministry of Education of China, Lanzhou, China; Department of Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhengshi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China (Lanzhou University), The Ministry of Education of China, Lanzhou, China; Department of Mechanics, School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D017276:Friction; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010316:Particle Size; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D008903:Minerals