Review of models for predicting wind characteristics behind windbreaks

摘要

This paper reviews 5 existing models for predicting wind characteristics, namely the mean wind velocity and turbulence intensity, in the sheltered area of single or multi-row windbreaks. The paper briefly presents the mechanism of wind flow around windbreaks and then describes 5 models that predict the profiles of mean wind speed in the lee of windbreaks. These 5 models are the Schwartz model, the Engineering Sciences Data Unit (ESDU) model, the Stredova model, the Hong model and the He model. The ESDU model can be used to estimate the mean horizontal wind speed profile and the turbulence intensity whilst the other 4 models are only capable of predicting the mean horizontal wind speed profile. By using existing wind speed datasets obtained from field measurements, laboratory tests and numerical simulations, the 5 models are assessed for their accuracy. It is found that the ESDU model is the most accurate for predicting the mean horizontal wind speed for flow regions behind a single windbreak. Behind multi-row windbreaks, the He model is found to provide the most accurate estimates of horizontal wind speed. In the case of predicting turbulence intensity, the ESDU model provides acceptable predictions, but unfortunately very limited data exist to validate these predictions. While the performance of these models is adequate, there is still much work to be done to further develop them and to address their current limitations.