DISEÑO DE UN TÚNEL DE VIENTO PORTÁTIL PARA EL ESTUDIO DE LA EROSIÓN EÓLICA

JUAN CRUZ COLAZO; MARIANO J. MENDEZ; LAURA DE ORO; FERNANDO AVECILLA; JUAN ESTEBAN PANEBIANCO; DANIEL E. BUSCHIAZZO

Ciencia del Suelo

ASOCIACIÓN ARGENTINA DE LA CIENCIA DEL SUELO

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2016

0326-3169

Wind erosion (WE) is an irreversible soil degradation process of arid and semiarid regions. With portable wind tunnels it is possible to simulate WE controlling critical variables like wind velocity and direction, duration of erosive events; and soil surface parameters under natural conditions as moisture, roughness and cover level. The objectives of this study were: 1) to describe the main aspects of the design and operation of a portable wind tunnel to study wind erosion, and 2) to calibrate the wind tunnel to fit the aerodynamics criterions related to the development of a vertical wind profile and an eroded material distribution similar to natural conditions. The main components of the wind tunnel are chassis, engine, wind fan, s-shaped section, honeycomb diffusor, the stabilization section and the working sections. The last ones have 2 m length; 0.5 m width and 1 m high. The wind tunnel was calibrated under an Entic Haplustoll in a bare and flat surface. The maximum velocity reached at 0.6 m was 22.5 m s-1. This means that the wind tunnel allow to simulated field erosive wind velocities. The vertical wind profile and eroded material distribution are similar to those produced under natural field condition. The use of this wind tunnel will improve the study of basic processes and technology control of wind erosion on soils of Argentina, also will serve as a guide for future wind tunnels development to study wind erosion