Comparative Wind Tunnel Analysis of Wind Flow Characteristics over Gentle and Steep Escarpment Slopes

Wani, Abdul Haseeb; Varma, Rajendra Kumar

doi:10.22059/ceij.2025.389658.2242

Comparative Wind Tunnel Analysis of Wind Flow Characteristics over Gentle and Steep Escarpment Slopes

Articles in Press

Authors

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Innovation and Translational Research Hub, Presidency University, Bengaluru, India

² Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jammu. Jagti, Jammmu (India)

10.22059/ceij.2025.389658.2242

Abstract

Wind flow dynamics play a crucial role in a range of engineering applications, such as optimizing wind farm site selection for efficient energy distribution, analysing forest fire spread, and evaluating wind loads on structures in mountainous regions. This study provides a comparative analysis of wind flow characteristics over two-dimensional escarpments with gentle (15°) and steep (75°) slopes, based on experimental investigations conducted in a boundary layer wind tunnel. An extensive wind flow characteristics study is carried out for the two escarpment models which span the entire width of the wind tunnel (two-dimensional). Results measured include mean wind velocity profiles and turbulence intensity profiles across the terrain length at a total of 17 locations. The analysis highlights the impact of slope on wind flow patterns, turbulence intensities, and amplification factors, offering valuable insights into topographical influences on wind behaviour. The findings presented in this paper are significant for applications in structural safety and wind energy. Based on the results of this paper, the authors also recommend the strategic locations for buildings to be built in hilly terrains.

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