Simulate and test different tent arrangements in windy and snowy conditions

Abstract

Simulating drifting snow is very difficult due to the way in which it accumulates over time. Snow drifts pose a real threat to Antarctic researchers who get stranded in the open with nothing but a lightweight tent to protect them during a blizzard. This report focusses on implementing snow into a CFD simulation to predict where the snow will build-up around a tent. Scaled down wind tunnel experiments using borax as a snow simulator were performed to validate the solution given by the simulation. The theory behind drifting snow will be discussed and how to use the tools available in CFD solvers to correctly model the build-up. The results will be compared against the experimental data and a verdict on the validity of the solution will be made.