A computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-antarctic Marion Island
MScEng Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. Research conducted on Marion Island aims at predicting the consequence of climate change in the Subantarctic region, as well as for other terrestrial ecosystems. The island has the ideal ecosystem, due...
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Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2009
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ftunstellenbosch:oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2314 2023-11-12T04:07:40+01:00 A computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-antarctic Marion Island Combrinck, Madeleine Lelon Harms, T. M. McGeoch, M. A. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. 2009-02-27T05:58:24Z application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2314 en eng Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2314 University of Stellenbosch Plant aerodynamics Particle deposition Dissertations -- Mechanical engineering Theses -- Mechanical engineering Computational fluid dynamics Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Thesis 2009 ftunstellenbosch 2023-10-22T07:38:38Z MScEng Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. Research conducted on Marion Island aims at predicting the consequence of climate change in the Subantarctic region, as well as for other terrestrial ecosystems. The island has the ideal ecosystem, due to its size, isolation and relative simplicity, to be studied as a prediction model for the consequence of climate change and the interaction between various climate related parameters. The cushion plant, Azorella selago, is the focal point of this project due to the important functional roles it fulfils as well as its wide spread distribution over the island. A. selago grows in three different shapes; hemispherical, elliptical and crescent. The changes in airflow due to varying plant size are investigated as well as the exertion of force on the plant. The grass species Agrostis magellanica has the tendency to grow on top of A. selago. In addition it has been observed that the grass species grows more vibrantly on the leeward side of the cushion plant. In the light of this observation the particle deposition of grass seeds on A. selago is also investigated. Computational fluid dynamic analyses are conducted for various sizes of each shape of the plant. These studies are augmented by wind tunnel and in situ measurements and observation and experimental determining of particle drag coefficients. Time independent, incompressible, turbulent flow is modelled by means of a high Reynolds number turbulence model with a modified Law-of-the- Wall to accommodate for the significant surface roughness. Nine different dimensions over the various shapes were identified. Each shape is analysed and the patterns that emerged discussed. The windward pattern for all shapes display similar qualities. On the leeward side the shapes display distinctly different airflow patterns. The hemisphere shows two trailing lines typically associated with the horseshoe vortex phenomenon. The ellipse displays one distinctive trailing line. The most ... Thesis Antarc* Antarctic Marion Island Stellenbosch University: SUNScholar Research Repository Antarctic |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Stellenbosch University: SUNScholar Research Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftunstellenbosch |
language |
English |
topic |
Plant aerodynamics Particle deposition Dissertations -- Mechanical engineering Theses -- Mechanical engineering Computational fluid dynamics Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering |
spellingShingle |
Plant aerodynamics Particle deposition Dissertations -- Mechanical engineering Theses -- Mechanical engineering Computational fluid dynamics Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Combrinck, Madeleine Lelon A computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-antarctic Marion Island |
topic_facet |
Plant aerodynamics Particle deposition Dissertations -- Mechanical engineering Theses -- Mechanical engineering Computational fluid dynamics Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering |
description |
MScEng Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. Research conducted on Marion Island aims at predicting the consequence of climate change in the Subantarctic region, as well as for other terrestrial ecosystems. The island has the ideal ecosystem, due to its size, isolation and relative simplicity, to be studied as a prediction model for the consequence of climate change and the interaction between various climate related parameters. The cushion plant, Azorella selago, is the focal point of this project due to the important functional roles it fulfils as well as its wide spread distribution over the island. A. selago grows in three different shapes; hemispherical, elliptical and crescent. The changes in airflow due to varying plant size are investigated as well as the exertion of force on the plant. The grass species Agrostis magellanica has the tendency to grow on top of A. selago. In addition it has been observed that the grass species grows more vibrantly on the leeward side of the cushion plant. In the light of this observation the particle deposition of grass seeds on A. selago is also investigated. Computational fluid dynamic analyses are conducted for various sizes of each shape of the plant. These studies are augmented by wind tunnel and in situ measurements and observation and experimental determining of particle drag coefficients. Time independent, incompressible, turbulent flow is modelled by means of a high Reynolds number turbulence model with a modified Law-of-the- Wall to accommodate for the significant surface roughness. Nine different dimensions over the various shapes were identified. Each shape is analysed and the patterns that emerged discussed. The windward pattern for all shapes display similar qualities. On the leeward side the shapes display distinctly different airflow patterns. The hemisphere shows two trailing lines typically associated with the horseshoe vortex phenomenon. The ellipse displays one distinctive trailing line. The most ... |
author2 |
Harms, T. M. McGeoch, M. A. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Combrinck, Madeleine Lelon |
author_facet |
Combrinck, Madeleine Lelon |
author_sort |
Combrinck, Madeleine Lelon |
title |
A computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-antarctic Marion Island |
title_short |
A computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-antarctic Marion Island |
title_full |
A computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-antarctic Marion Island |
title_fullStr |
A computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-antarctic Marion Island |
title_full_unstemmed |
A computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-antarctic Marion Island |
title_sort |
computational fluid dynamic analysis of the airflow over the keystone plant species, azorella selago, on sub-antarctic marion island |
publisher |
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2314 |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Marion Island |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Marion Island |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2314 |
op_rights |
University of Stellenbosch |
_version_ |
1782328248705744896 |