• Wind and Structures
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.85-102
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• 2020

Accurate load evaluation is essential in any performance-based design. Design wind speeds and associated wind loads are well defined for synoptic boundary layer winds but not for thunderstorms. The method presented in the current study represents a new approach to obtain design wind speeds associated with thunderstorms and their gust fronts using historical data and Monte Carlo simulations. The method consists of the following steps (i) developing a numerical model for thunderstorm downdrafts (i.e. downbursts) to account for storm translation and outflow dissipation, (ii) utilizing the model to characterize previous events and (iii) extrapolating the limited wind speed data to cover life-span of structures. The numerical model relies on a previously generated CFD wind field, which is validated using six documented thunderstorm events. The model suggests that 10 parameters are required to describe the characteristics of an event. The model is then utilized to analyze wind records obtained at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (KLBB) meteorological station to identify the thunderstorm parameters for this location, obtain their probability distributions, and utilized in the Monte Carlo simulation of thunderstorm gust front events for many thousands of years for the purpose of estimating design wind speeds. The analysis suggests a potential underestimation of design wind speeds when neglecting thunderstorm gust fronts, which is common practice in analyzing historical wind records. When compared to the design wind speed for a 700-year MRI in ASCE 7-10 and ASCE 7-16, the estimated wind speeds from the simulation were 10% and 11.5% higher, respectively.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.287-300
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• 2007

Wind action is a factor of fundamental importance in the structural design of light or slender constructions. Codes for structural design usually assume that the incident mean wind velocity is parallel to the ground, which constitutes a valid simplification for frequent winds caused by meteorological phenomena such as Extratropical Storms (EPS) or Tropical Storms. Wind effects due to other phenomena, such as thunderstorms, and its combination with EPS winds in so-called squall lines, are simply neglected. In this paper a model that describes the three-dimensional wind velocity field originated from a downburst in a thunderstorm (TS) is proposed. The model is based on a semi empirical representation of an axially-symmetrical flow line pattern that describes a stationary field, modulated by a function that accounts for the evolution of the wind velocity with time. The model allows the generation of a spatially and temporally variable velocity field, which also includes a fluctuating component of the velocity. All parameters employed in the model are related to meteorological variables, which are susceptible of statistical assessment. A background wind is also considered, in order to account for the translational velocity of the thunderstorm, normally due to local wind conditions. When the translation of the TS is caused by an EPS, a squall line is produced, causing the highest wind velocities associated with TS events. The resulting vertical velocity profiles were also studied and compared with existing models, such as the profiles proposed by Vicroy, et al. (1992) and Wood and Kwok (1998). The present model predicts horizontal velocity profiles that depend on the distance to the storm center, effect not considered by previous models, although the various proposals are globally compatible. The model can be applied in any region of interest, once the relevant meteorological variables are known, to simulate the excitation due to TS winds in the design of transmission lines, long-span crossings, cable-stayed bridges, towers or similar structures.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.9-16
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• 2022

Syngas, also known as synthesis gas, synthetic gas, or producer gas, is a combustible gas mixture generated when organic material (biomass) is heated in a gasifier with a limited airflow at a high temperature and elevated pressure. The present research was aimed at modifying the existing LPG engine generator for fully operated syngas. During this study, the designed gasifier-powered woodchip biomass was used for syngas production to generate power. A 6.0 kW LPG engine generator was modified and tested for operation on syngas. In the experiments, syngas and LPG fuels were tested as test fuels. For syngas production, 3 kg of dry woodchips were fed and burnt into the designed downdraft gasifier. The gasifier was connected to a blower coupled with a slider to help the air supply and control the ignition. The convection cooling system was connected to the syngas flow pipe for cooling the hot produce gas and filtering the impurities. For engine modification, a customized T-shaped flexible air/fuel mixture control device was designed for adjusting the correct stoichiometric air-fuel ratio ranging between 1:1.1 and 1.3 to match the combustion needs of the engine. The composition of produced syngas was analyzed using a gas analyzer and its composition was; 13~15 %, 10.2~13 %, 4.1~4.5 %, and 11.9~14.6 % for CO, H₂, CH₄, and CO₂ respectively with a heating value range of 4.12~5.01 MJ/Nm³. The maximum peak power output generated from syngas and LPG was recorded using a clamp-on power meter and found to be 3,689 watts and 5,001 watts, respectively. The results found from the experiment show that the LPG engine generator operated on syngas can be adopted with a de-ration rate of 73.78 % compared to its regular operating fuel.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.187-199
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the formation mechanism of landspout by using the Cloud Resolving Storm Simulator (CReSS). The landspout occurred over Ilsan, Goyang City, the Republic of Korea on June 10, 2014 with the damage of a private property. In synoptic environment, a cold dry air on the upper layers of the atmosphere, and there was an advection with warm and humid air in the lower atmosphere. Temperature differences between upper and lower layers resulted in thermal instability. The storm began to arise at 1920 KST and reached the mature stage in ten minutes. The cloud top height was estimated at 9 km and the hook echo was appeared at the rear of a storm in simulation result. Model results showed that the downburst was generated in the developed storm over the Ilsan area. This downburst caused the horizontal flow when it diverged near the surface. The horizontal flow was switched to updraft at the rear of storm, and the rear-flank downdrafts (RFDs) current occurred from simulation result. The RFDs took down the vertical flow to the surface. After then, the vertical vorticity could be generated on the surface in simulation result. Subsequently, the vertical vorticity was stretched to form a landspout. The cyclonic vorticity of echo hook from simulation was greater than $3{\times}10^{-2}s^{-1}$(height of 360 m) and landspout diameter was estimated at 1 km.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.5_1
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• pp.679-692
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• 2020

We coupled a CFD model to the WRF-Chem model (WRF-CFD model) and investigated the characteristics of flows and carbon monoxide (CO) distributions in a building-congested district. We validated the simulated results against the measured wind speeds, wind directions, and CO concentrations. The WRF-Chem model simulated the winds from southwesterly to southeasterly, overestimating the measured wind speeds. The statistical validation showed that the WRF-CFD model simulated the measured wind speeds more realistically than the WRF-Chem model. The WRF-Chem model significantly underestimated the measured CO concentrations, and the WRF-CFD model improved the CO concentration prediction. Based on the statistical validation results, the WRF-CFD model improved the performance in predicting the CO concentrations by taking complicatedly distributed buildings and mobiles sources of CO into account. At 04 KST on May 22, there was a downdraft around the AQMS, and airflow with a relatively low CO concentration was advected from the upper layer. Resultantly, the CO concentration was lower at the AQMS than the surrounding area. At 15 KST on May 22, there was an updraft around the AQMS. This resulted in a slightly higher CO concentration than the surroundings. The WRF-CFD model transported CO emitted from the mobile sources to the AQMS measurement altitude, well reproducing the measured CO concentration. At 18 KST on May 22, the WRF-CFD model simulated high CO concentrations because of high CO emission, broad updraft area, and an increase in turbulent diffusion cause by wind-shear increase near the ground.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.264-277
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• 2021

This study analyzed the relationship between the total precipitable water vapor in the atmosphere and the moving speed of recent typhoons. This study used ground observation data of air temperature, precipitation, and wind speed from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) as well as total rainfall data and Red-Green-Blue (RGB) composite images from the U.S. Meteorological and Satellite Research Institute and the KMA's Cheollian Satellite 2A (GEO-KOMPSAT-2A). Using the typhoon location and moving speed data provided by the KMA, we compared the moving speeds of typhoon Bavi, Maysak, and Haishen from 2020, typhoon Tapah from 2019, and typhoon Kong-rey from 2018 with the average typhoon speed by latitude. Tapah and Kong-rey moved at average speed with changing latitude, while Bavi and Maysak showed a significant decrease in moving speed between approximately 25°N and 30°N. This is because a water vapor band in the atmosphere in front of these two typhoons induced frontogenesis and prevented their movement. In other words, when the water vapor band generated by the low-level jet causes frontogenesis in front of the moving typhoon, the high pressure area located between the site of frontogenesis and the typhoon develops further, inducing as a blocking effect. Together with the tropical night phenomenon, this slows the typhoon. Bavi and Maysak were accompanied by copious atmospheric water vapor; consequently, a water vapor band along the low-level jet induced frontogenesis. Then, the downdraft of the high pressure between the frontogenesis and the typhoon caused the tropical night phenomenon. Finally, strong winds and heavy rains occurred in succession once the typhoon landed.