Continuum model for steady, fully developed saltation above a horizontal particle bed.

We propose a continuum model for steady, fully developed saltation above a horizontal particle bed that provides local, analytical expressions for the particle pressure and shear stress. This analytical approach contrasts with discrete numerical simulations in which the trajectories of individual particles are computed as they interact with gravity, the wind, and the bed. The continuum model has the advantage that it can easily be extended to nonuniform and unsteady situations. We employ it to predict the fields of concentration, particle velocity, and wind velocity in steady, fully developed saltation above a particle bed over a range of wind speeds. The predicted profiles are in good agreement with those measured in wind tunnel experiments.