Soil erosion rates caused by wind and saltating sand stresses in a wind tunnel
Wind erosion tests were performed in a wind tunnel in support of the development of long-term protective barriers to cap stabilized waste sites at the Hanford Site. Controlled wind and saltating sand erosive stresses were applied to physical models of barrier surface layers to simulate worst-case eolian erosive stresses. The goal of these tests was to provide information useful to the design and evaluation of the surface layer composition of an arid-region waste site barrier concept that incorporates a deep fine-soil reservoir. A surface layer composition is needed that will form an armor resistant to eolian erosion during periods of extreme dry climatic conditions, especially when such conditions result in the elimination or reduction of vegetation by water deprivation or wildfire. Because of the life span required of Hanford waste barriers, it is important that additional work follow these wind tunnel studies. A modeling effort is planned to aid the interpretation of test results with respect to the suitability of pea gravel to protect the finite-soil reservoir during long periods of climatic stress. It is additionally recommended that wind tunnel tests be continued and field data be obtained at prototype or actual barrier sites. Results wig contribute to barrier design efforts and provide confidence in the design of long-term waste site caps for and regions.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6377761
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-8478; ON: DE93009154
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
58 GEOSCIENCES
CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS
PERFORMANCE
STRUCTURAL MODELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
WASTE FORMS
CLIMATE MODELS
COMPILED DATA
EROSION
HANFORD RESERVATION
METEOROLOGY
SAFETY
SAND
SOILS
WIND
WIND TUNNELS
CONTAINMENT
DATA
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
INFORMATION
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
TUNNELS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
540250* - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (1990-)
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
580000 - Geosciences