Road Weather Management Program
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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

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Title:

Development of Advanced Snowbreak Fences

Abstract:

The blower snow fence is equipped with lateral fins attached obliquely to the vertical support so as to redirect incident winds downward. The redirected wind blows snow off of the road surface and secures visibility at the driver's sight level. The blower snow fence is most effective when the wind strikes perpendicularly and is known to be less effective against oblique winds. The authors are developing an improved blower snow fence that is effective in oblique winds. The new structure features modified fins that incorporate wind-straightening vanes. The improved structure can redirect oblique winds more effectively. Wind tunnel model experiments were conducted with wind-straightening vanes of different heights and intervals. The proposed blower snow fence proved about 10 percent more effective than the conventional blower snow fence.

Source(s):

6th International Symposium on Snow Removal and Ice Control Technology, Transportation Research Circular, No. E-C063

http://trb.org/publications/circulars/ec063.pdf

Date: 2004

Author:

Matsuzawa

Keywords:


Snow fence
Wind
Pavement condition
Visibility

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