CFD analysis of fine clay particles dispersion from a truck operating on unpaved roads
Résumé
Heavy trucks are a major source of particle resuspension when moving on unpaved sites. The forces exerted by truck wheels on the soil lead to particle detachment and massive particle entrainment, forming dust clouds dispersion in the vehicle's wake. To mitigate these emissions, understanding and characterizing the flow downstream earthworks dump trucks is crucial. In this study, we present an advanced Euler-Lagrange Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) investigation of an air flow developed in the wake of a reduced scale (1:50) simplified model of a Mercedes 8 × 4 dump truck. The paper explores the fluid flow behavior induced by three different types of truck loads: empty, full and overloaded truck beds. Solutions for mitigating dust resuspension are investigated by exploring the influence of the attachment of single and double mudflaps compared to a reference case without mudflaps. Comparing the CFD results to experimental wind tunnel measurement data, reveals the validation and accuracy of the present 3D CFD model. 40000 particles of dry clay, 1 μm in diameter and of density 1600 kg/m 3 are then injected to mimic the truck passage over a dusty ground, similar to truck movement on a construction site. This allowed to investigate the particles entrainment and resuspension phenomena in the wake region downstream the truck. The present findings contribute to a better understanding of the wake flow dynamics and particles entrainment and resuspension behind earthworks dump trucks, highlighting the importance of flow control to mitigate dust particles air pollution.
