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Estimation of the surface stress from the streamwise pressure gradient: The Kármán Integral Momentum Equation revisited

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Abstract

A method is developed to estimate the stress at the surface in a portable wind tunnel for wind erosion studies. The boundary layer height and the pressure gradient are used in a simple expression from the Kármán Integral Momentum Equation. Values of friction velocity u * are within 10% of experimental values obtained through correlation techniques, including measurements of differential pressures with the Murdoch Turbulence Probe MTP and the X-wire, hot-wire anemometer XWA. Wind velocity and stress profiles reveal logarithmic trends and a ‘constant stress layer’ near the surface in the DAWA portable wind tunnel. Realignment of the statistics with the mean wind is essential.

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Abbreviations

DAWA:

Department of Agriculture, Western Australia-formerly, West Australian Department of Agriculture and also Agriculture WA

MTP:

Murdoch Turbulence Probe

XWA:

X-Wire Anemometer, a cross-wire, hot-wire anemometer

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Findlater, P.A., Scott, W.D., Greenhill, S.E. et al. Estimation of the surface stress from the streamwise pressure gradient: The Kármán Integral Momentum Equation revisited. Environ Fluid Mech 4, 367–383 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-005-6203-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-005-6203-4

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