Two-dimensional slope wind simulations in the finite element approximation

Conference · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5337979

Tuerpe, D R

The hydrostatic fluid dynamics model developed at LLL has been used to simulate the development of katabatic winds. This model solves the Navier-Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation by the finite element method. Preliminary results indicate that to obtain physically reasonable results one has to choose unequal diffusion parameters in the horizontal (K/sub x/) and vertical (K/sub z/). The maximum velocities obtained with K/sub z/ = 1 m/sup 2//sec and K/sub x/ = 100 m/sup 2//sec are of the order of 2.5 m/sec for a slope of .2. Profiles of the downslope velocities will be presented at different points in the flow. As expected, the magnitude of the vertical diffusion coefficient K/sub z/ controls the depth of the flow which seems to increase only slightly with downhill distance, and the magnitude of the flow increases with cooling rate and slope.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore National Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5337979
• Report Number(s): UCRL-84534; CONF-800480-4
• Resource Relation: Conference: ASCOT program planning meeting, Gettysburg, PA, USA, 15 Apr 1980
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
WIND
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
DIFFUSION
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FLUID FLOW
NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS
SURFACE AIR
THEORETICAL DATA
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VELOCITY
AIR
DATA
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
500100* - Environment
Atmospheric- Basic Studies- (-1989)