In this work, we numerically simulated the saltating particles in a turbulent boundary layer over flat bed and sand ripples. By using natural sand grains in a wind tunnel, we obtained the initial conditions for the simulation and also verified the correctness of the numerical model. We carefully analyzed the numerically simulated saltating particle movement over the two sand beds, and we found the following. (1) The aeolian sand transport is a dynamic equilibrium process on both sand beds, and it took longer to reach equilibration on the sand ripples than on the flat bed. (2) According to the mass flux profile at the trough of the sand ripples, there is a maximum mass flux at about 4cm height in the leeward section. The mass flux increases with height below 4cm and decreases with height above 4cm. (3) The wind profile near the surface is modified by saltating particles on the two different sand beds, and the flow field characteristics of the sand ripples are more complex than that of the flat bed.
展开▼