A novel erosion/deposition model for Eulerian-Eulerian method and its application in simulating snow drifting on gable roofs

Abstract

The Eulerian-Eulerian method is commonly employed for simulating snow drifting on roofs in engineering, utilizing erosion/deposition models to address the particle-surface interaction. However, the existing erosion/deposition models are empirical, resulting in variations in determining the surface flux. Therefore, this study establishes a novel erosion/deposition model to improve the Eulerian-Eulerian method, and the method is applied to simulate snow drifting on gable roofs. The simulated snow transport rate falls within the range of the results derived from previously established formulas. A wind tunnel test was performed to predict snow redistribution on the roof, and the simulated results show general agreement with the experimental data. The method is further validated using field-measured data on snow redistribution on stepped flat roofs. The impacts of approaching wind velocity and roof span on snow drifting on gable roofs are discussed. Snow concentration increases as the wind velocity and roof span increase, and the maximum value occurs near the ridge. Higher approaching wind velocity and longer roof span both result in greater extents of erosion on the windward side and deposition on the leeward side. On large-span roofs, not only does snow deposition occur behind the ridge, but also snow erosion occurs near the leeward edge.