Characteristics of wind-sand transportation along railways in the eastern fringe of the Taklimakan Desert and sand control system

Abstract

This paper focuses on the Korla-Ruoqiang desert railway line, utilizing ERA5 wind data to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the wind energy environment along the line in all aspects, reveals the characteristics of wind-sand transport along the line, and puts forward the countermeasures to prevent and control the wind-sand disasters on the basis of this. The results of the study indicate that: (1) the wind-sand along the line mainly occurs in the spring and summer seasons, and the dominant sand-moving directions are easterly (ENE, E and NNE) and northeasterly (NE). (2) The average annual sand-moving wind speed ranges from 5.80 m/s to 7.25 m/s, and the annual frequency of sand-moving ranges from 11.99% to 37.26%. (3) The annual sand drift potential (DP) along the line ranges from 69.20 VU to 607.24 VU, with three types of wind energy environments: low, medium and high, the resultant drift potential (RDP) ranges from 45.52 VU to 547.49 VU, and the wind variability index (RDP/DP) is between 0.54 and 0.90. (4) The average sand transport quantity along the line ranges from 2.92 m³/m/a to 9.09 m³/m/a. Based on these results, we optimize the sand blocking, sand fixing and wind erosion prevention measures for different types of wind-sand environments along the line, establish a scientific and efficient wind-sand protection and control system to solve the wind-sand problems along the line, and provide a scientific foundation for the prevention and control of wind-sand disasters along the line.