Wind-tunnel experiments of snowdrift formation behind an elevated building at Syowa Station, Antarctica

Abstract

To study snowdrift formation behind elevated buildings, wind-tunnel experiments were carried out, using activated clay particles to simulate snow, on a 1/100 scale model of the observation hut at Syowa Station. The similitude of snowdrift for the model and the actual prototype was obtained precisely when the tunnel wind-speed and the wind duration were 5.0m/s and 2.5 hours, respectively. This modeling technique using activated clay particles is proved to be useful for further studies on the most appropriate shape and dimensions of elevated buildings to prevent snowdrift.