Effects of different types of guardrails on sand transportation of desert highway pavement

doi:10.1007/s40333-022-0030-z

Journal of Arid Land

2022, Vol. 14

Issue (9): 993-1008 DOI: 10.1007/s40333-022-0030-z

Research article

Effects of different types of guardrails on sand transportation of desert highway pavement

GAO Li¹, CHENG Jianjun¹^,^*(

), WANG Haifeng²^,^*(

), YUAN Xinxin²

¹College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
²Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830000, China

Download:

HTML

PDF(3492KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)

Abstract

Guardrail, an important highway traffic safety facility, is mainly used to prevent vehicles from accidentally driving off the road and to ensure driving safety. Desert highway guardrails hinder the movement of wind-blown sand, resulting in the decline of sand transportation by the pavement and the deposition of sand gains on the pavement, and endangering traffic safety. To reveal the influence of guardrails on sand transportation of desert highway pavement, we tested the flow field and sand transport volume distribution around the concrete, W-beam, and cable guardrails under different wind velocities through wind tunnel simulation. Wind velocity attenuation coefficients, sand transportation quantity, and sand transportation efficiency are used to measure sand transportation of highway pavement. The results show that the sand transportation of highway pavement was closely related to the zoning characteristics of flow field and variation of wind velocity around the guardrails. The flow field of the concrete guardrail was divided into deceleration, acceleration, and vortex zones. The interaction between the W-beam guardrail and wind-blown sand was similar to that of lower wind deflector. Behind and under the plates, there were the vortex zone and acceleration zone, respectively. The acceleration zone was conducive to transporting sand on the pavement. The cable guardrail only caused wind velocity variability within the height range of guardrail, and there was no sand deposition on the highway pavement. When the cable, W-beam, and concrete guardrails were used, the total transportation quantities on the highway pavement were 423.53, 415.74, and 136.53 g/min, respectively, and sand transportation efficiencies were 99.31%, 91.25%, and 12.84%, respectively. From the perspective of effective sand transportation on the pavement, the cable guardrail should be preferred as a desert highway guardrail, followed by the W-beam guardrail, and the concrete guardrail is unsuitable. The study results provide theoretical basis for the optimal design of desert highway guardrails and the prevention of wind-blown sand disasters on the highway pavement.

Key words： desert highway wind-blown sand guardrail sand transportation capacity wind tunnel test

Received: 04 May 2022 Published: 30 September 2022

Corresponding Authors: ^*CHENG Jianjun (E-mail: chengdesign@126.com);WANG Haifeng (E-mail: wanghf@ms.xjb.ac.cn)

	Service
	E-mail this article
	Add to my bookshelf
	Add to citation manager
	E-mail Alert
	RSS
	Articles by authors
	GAO Li
	CHENG Jianjun
	WANG Haifeng
	YUAN Xinxin

Cite this article:

GAO Li, CHENG Jianjun, WANG Haifeng, YUAN Xinxin. Effects of different types of guardrails on sand transportation of desert highway pavement. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(9): 993-1008.

URL:

http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1007/s40333-022-0030-z OR http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2022/V14/I9/993

Fig. 1 Sand deposition near the guardrails of desert highways. (a), concrete guardrail; (b), W-beam guardrail (Li et al., 2016); (c), cable guardrail.

Fig. 2 Layout of the flow field test. H is the height of guardrail.

Fig. 3 Flow field and sediment transport measurement. (a), pitot rube; (b), concrete guardrail; (c), W-beam guardrail; (d), cable guardrail.

Fig. 4 Wind velocity profiles of the simulated boundary layer

Fig. 5 Isoline maps of wind velocity distribution around different types of guardrail under the velocity of 12 m/s. The positive and negative values represent the leeward and windward sides of guardrail, respectively. (a), concrete guardrail; (b), W-beam guardrail; (c), cable guardrail.

Fig. 6 Schematic diagram for streamline distribution around the guardrail. R_u is the clockwise vortex zone on the windward side, and R_d is the reversed flow region on the leeward side. (a), concrete guardrail; (b), W-beam guardrail; (c), cable guardrail.

Fig. 7 Wind velocity attenuation coefficient (WVAC) of different types of guardrail under the wind velocities of 8, 10, 12, and 14 m/s. (a), concrete guardrail; (b), W-beam guardrail; (c), cable guardrail.

Fig. 8 Sand transportation quantity (STQ) of the highway pavement at 5.0H on the leeward side of guardrail under the wind velocities of 8 (a), 10 (b), 12 (c), and 14 m/s (d)

Table 1 Distribution of sand transportation quantity (STQ) on the highway pavement at 5.0H on the leeward side of guardrail under the wind velocities of 8, 10, 12, and 14 m/s

Fig. 9 Sand transportation quantity (STQ) of the highway pavement at different horizontal positions on the leeward side of guardrail. (a), concrete guardrail; (b), W-beam guardrail; (c), cable guardrail.

Fig. 10 Total sand transportation quantity (TSTQ) of the highway pavement on the leeward side of guardrail

Fig. 11 Sand transportation efficiency (STE) of the highway pavement of different types of guardrail under the wind velocities of 8 (a), 10 (b), 12 (c), and 14 m/s (d)

Fig. 12 Sand deposition around the guardrail. (a), concrete guardrail; (b), W-beam guardrail; (c), cable guardrail.

Table 2 Wind ventilation area, wind resistance area, and porosity of the guardrail


[1]	Bruno L, Horvat M, Raffaele L. 2018. Windblown sand along railway infrastructures: A review of challenges and mitigation measures. Journal of Wind Engineering & Industrial Aerodynamics, 177: 340-365.

[2]	Chen B Y, Cheng J J, Xin L G, et al. 2019. Effectiveness of hole plate-type sand barriers in reducing aeolian sediment flux: Evaluation of effect of hole size. Aeolian Research, 38: 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.aeolia.2019.03.001

[3]	Cheng J J, Xue C X. 2014. The sand-damage-prevention engineering system for the railway in the desert region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Journal of Wind Engineering & Industrial Aerodynamics, 125: 30-37.

[4]	Cheng J J, Lei J Q, Li S Y, et al. 2016a. Disturbance of the inclined inserting-type sand fence to wind-sand flow fields and its sand control characteristics. Aeolian Research, 21: 139-150. doi: 10.1016/j.aeolia.2016.04.008

[5]	Cheng J J, Lei J Q, Li S Y, et al. 2016b. Effect of hanging-type sand fence on characteristics of wind-sand flow fields. Wind and Structures, 22(5): 555-571. doi: 10.12989/was.2016.22.5.555

[6]	Cheng J J, Zhi L Y, Xue C X, et al. 2017. Control law of lower air deflector for sand flow field along railway. China Railway Science, 38(6): 16-23. (in Chinese)

[7]	Cheng J J, Ding B S, Gao L, et al. 2021. Numerical study on the bearing response trend of perforated sheet-type sand fences. Aeolian Research, 53: 100734, doi: 10.1016/j.aeolia.2021.100734. doi: 10.1016/j.aeolia.2021.100734

[8]	Ding B S, Cheng J J, Xia D T, et al. 2021. Fiber-Reinforced Sand-Fixing Board Based on the Concept of "Sand Control with Sand": Experimental Design, Testing, and Application. Sustainability, 13(18): 10229, doi: 10.3390/su131810229. doi: 10.3390/su131810229

[9]	Dong Z B, Chen G T, He X D, et al. 2004. Controlling blown sand along the highway crossing the Taklimakan Desert. Journal of Arid Environments, 57(3): 329-344. doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2002.02.001

[10]	Han Y L, Gao Y, Meng Z J, et al. 2017. Effects of wind guide plates on wind velocity acceleration and dune leveling: a case study in Ulan Buh Desert, China. Journal of Arid Land, 9(5): 743-752. doi: 10.1007/s40333-017-0101-8

[11]	Han Z W, Wang T, Sun Q W, et al. 2003. Sand harm in Taklimakan Desert highway and sand control. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 13(1): 45-53. doi: 10.1007/BF02873146

[12]	Jason M H, Venky N S, Gudmundur F U. 2005. The crash severity impacts of fixed roadside objects. Journal of Safety Research, 36(2): 139-147. doi: 10.1016/j.jsr.2004.12.005

[13]	Lei J Q, Li S Y, Fan D D, et al. 2008. Classification and regionalization of the forming environment of windblown sand disasters along the Tarim Desert Highway. Chinese Science Bulletin, 53(Suppl. 2): 1-7. doi: 10.1007/s11434-008-0026-x

[14]	Li B L, Sherman D J. 2015. Aerodynamics and morphodynamics of sand fences: A review. Aeolian Research, 17: 33-48. doi: 10.1016/j.aeolia.2014.11.005

[15]	Li C J, Wang Y D, Lei J Q, et al. 2021. Damage by wind-blown sand and its control measures along the Taklimakan Desert Highway in China. Journal of Arid Land, 13(1): 98-106. doi: 10.1007/s40333-020-0071-0

[16]	Li S H, Li C, Yao D, et al. 2020. Wind tunnel experiments for dynamic modeling and analysis of motion trajectories of wind-blown sands. Europen Physical Journal E, 43(22): 1-10.

[17]	Li S Y, Fan J L, Wang H F, et al. 2016. Causes and thoughts of comprehensive control of blown sand disaster at Qiaha Bridge of National Highway 315, in Cele County, Xinjiang, Northwest China. Arid Land Geography, 39(4): 754-760. (in Chinese)

[18]	Owen P R, Gillette D. 1985. Wind tunnel constraint on saltation. In: Proceedings of International Workshop on the Physics of Blown Sand, Denmark: University of Aarhus, 253-269.

[19]	Pan J S, Zhao H, Wang Y, et al. 2021. The influence of aeolian sand on the anti-Skid characteristics of Asphalt Pavement. Materials, 14(19): 5523, doi: 10.3390/ma14195523. doi: 10.3390/ma14195523

[20]	Shi L, Wang D Y, Cui K, et al. 2021. Comparative evaluation of concrete sand-control fences used for railway protection in strong wind areas. Railway Engineering Science, 29(2): 183-198. doi: 10.1007/s40534-020-00228-5

[21]	Tsukahara T, Sakamoto Y, Aoshima D, et al. 2012. Visualization and laser measurements on the flow field and sand movement on sand dunes with porous fences. Experiments in Fluids, 52(4): 877-890. doi: 10.1007/s00348-011-1157-4

[22]	Wang C, Li S Y, Li Z N, et al. 2020a. Effects of windblown sand damage on desert highway guardrails. Natural Hazards, 103: 283-298. doi: 10.1007/s11069-020-03987-w

[23]	Wang C, Li S Y, Lei J Q, et al. 2020b. Effect of the W-beam central guardrails on wind-blown sand deposition on desert expressways in sandy regions. Journal of Arid Land, 12(1): 154-165. doi: 10.1007/s40333-020-0052-3

[24]	Wang T, Qu J J, Niu Q H. 2020. Comparative study of the shelter efficacy of straw checkerboard barriers and rocky checkerboard barriers in a wind tunnel. Aeolian Research, 43: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2020.100575.

[25]	Wang Y G, Chen K M, Ci Y S, et al. 2011. Safety performance audit for roadside and median barriers using freeway crash records: Case study in Jiangxi, China. Scientia Iranica, 18(6): 1222-1230. doi: 10.1016/j.scient.2011.11.020

[26]	White B R. 1996. Laboratory simulation of aeolian sand transport and physical modeling of flow around dunes. Ann Arid Zone, 35(3): 187-213.

[27]	Xiao J H, Yao Z Y, Qu J J. 2015. Influence of Golmud-Lhasa section of Qinghai-Tibet Railway on blown sand transport. Chinese Geographical Science, 25(1): 39-50. doi: 10.1007/s11769-014-0722-1

[1]	YAN Ping, WANG Xiaoxu, ZHENG Shucheng, WANG Yong, LI Xiaomei. Research on wind erosion processes and controlling factors based on wind tunnel test and 3D laser scanning technology[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(9): 1009-1021.

[2]	LI Congjuan, WANG Yongdong, LEI Jiaqiang, XU Xinwen, WANG Shijie, FAN Jinglong, LI Shengyu. Damage by wind-blown sand and its control measures along the Taklimakan Desert Highway in China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2021, 13(1): 98-106.

[3]	WANG Cui, LI Shengyu, LEI Jiaqiang, LI Zhinong, CHEN Jie. Effect of the W-beam central guardrails on wind-blown sand deposition on desert expressways in sandy regions[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2020, 12(1): 154-165.

[4]	Tao WANG, Jianjun QU, Yuquan LING, Shengbo XIE, Jianhua XIAO. Wind tunnel test on the effect of metal net fences on sand flux in a Gobi Desert, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2017, 9(6): 888-899.

[5]	CHENG Hong, HE Jiajia, XU Xingri, ZOU Xueyong, WU Yongqiu, LIU Chenchen, DONG Yifan, PAN Meihui, WANG Yanzai, ZHANG Hongyan. Blown sand motion within the sand-control system in the southern section of the Taklimakan Desert Highway[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2015, 7(5): 599-611.

[6]	LiShan SHAN, Yi LI, RuiFeng ZHAO, XiMing ZHANG. Effects of deficit irrigation on daily and seasonal variations of trunk sap flow and its growth in Calligonum arborescens[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2013, 5(2): 233-243.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed