Large-eddy Simulation of Sand Streamers in Wind-blown Sand☆

Abstract A large-eddy simulation (LES) is used to investigate the characteristic spatial and temporal dimensions and behavior of aeolian sand streamers in a spatially developing turbulent boundary layer at Re θ =O (10 5 ) Solid particles are tracked in a Lagrangian way. One-way coupling was assumed to model particle–flow interactions, based on the assumption that the particles were very diluted. This is the first simulation of a particle-laden turbulent boundary layer we are aware of, presumably with the focus on saltation of inertial particle and the structuresof aeolian streamers. In our simulation, complicated transport patterns and the formation and evolution of aeolian sand streamers are clearly observed, which is unavailable from experiments.The numerically estimated spatial and temporal dimensions and mean saltation height is compared with the experimental data of [1] . We find that the hight of saltation maybe play a significant role in the formation or maintenance of streamers.