• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.105-110
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• 2020

This study provides a method and data for predicting the flight initiation wind speed of wind-borne debris. From the force equilibrium acting on debris including aerodynamic and inertia forces, the equation for predicting the flight initiation wind speeds are presented. Wind tunnel tests were carried out to provide necessary aerodynamic data in the equation for the debris with various aspect ratios. The proposed equation for flight initiation wind speeds was validated from free flying tests in the wind tunnel. The flights of debris were mostly initiated by slip when width to thickness was less than 10, otherwise overturning were dominant. The actual flight initiation speeds were lower than that of the computed ones. The surface boundary layer flow and the gap between the debris and surface might affect the prediction error.