Abstract
Rokkasho-mura in Aomori Prefecture, located in the north-eastern part of Japan's main island, is one of few localities in the country which is noted for large snowdrifts. Once snowdrift begins, visibility becomes almost nil. As it is not rare that, even when it is not snowing, the average wind velocity is over 10 m/sec, effective temperatures are significantly lower than ambient temperature.
It has become necessary to pour and cure concrete in the winter at Rokkashomura and workers must be protected from not only snow but strong winds. In this area, WSW, W and WNW winds are predominant in the winter and other winds are infrequent. Therefore, attenuation of these winds is sufficient to permit achievement of the work. Main fences 10 to 13 meters high were set mainly on the west side of the site. Auxiliary fences 5 meters high were set on the north side and inside the site to prevent snowdrift.
This paper reports on the results of a wind tunnel test to predict the effectiveness of these wind and snow fences, and the results of full-scale measurement of the effectiveness of the fences.
