Development of new snowdrift model based on two transport equations of drifting snow density: Numerical prediction of snowdrift around buildings using CFD (Part 2)

This study aims to develop a new drifting snow model that solves two transport equations of drifting snow densities of the snow particles falling from the sky and those coming from the ground surface. Because the shape of snow particles falling from the sky is completely different from that of snow particles lifted up from the snow surface which are broken apart by repeated collision with the surface. CFD prediction of snowdrift around a cubic shaped building model using the developed new model was carried out and its accuracy was examined based on the comparison with field measurement conducted by Qikawa et al Furthermore, the mechanism of snowdrift formation around the building model was clarified by estimating the contribution ratio of the snow particles from the air and those from the surface to snow coverage distribution.