Numerical Simulation of U-Shaped Metal Rings in a Wind-Sand Environment

The interaction of U-shaped rings used for power transmission hardware with a wind-sand field is simulated numerically. A standard turbulence model is used in synergy with an Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. The results show that the wind pressure on the windward side of the U-shaped ring is the highest, a negative pressure zone appears on both sides of the U-shaped ring, while a Kármán Vortex Street is created on its leeward side. There are three possible regimes of motion for the sand grains in the wind field. Sand grains with size below 0.125 mm can follow the airflow directly into the contact area of two U-shaped rings. When the sand size is about 0.1 mm, the number of sand grains that are blown into the contact area attains a maximum. Through the simulation of U-shaped rings in the wind-sand field, the dynamics of such processes are explained in detail, thereby providing relevant information for the subsequent protection and design of connecting hardware used for power transmission.