For modern telescopes with the strict requirement of high-resolution image quality, the influence of wind load cannot be ignored. KDUST is a 2.5 m optical telescope and will be installed at Dome A.

To study the effects of wind load on KDUST, the low-frequency wind speed data observed by KL-AWS-2G weather station at Dome A are transformed into high frequency based on the theory of wind speed fluctuation spectrum; then, the numerical wind tunnel simulation is conducted under the conditions of different dominant wind directions, different dome opening angles, and the elevation angles of KDUST.

The results show that different wind directions mainly affect the wind velocity and turbulence kinetic energy around the telescope; the optical path difference increases along with the increase of the dome opening angle, but decreases with the increase of the elevation angle of KDUST; the dome seeing decreases with the increase of both the dome opening angle and elevation angle.

This simulation will provide a useful reference for the future design and construction of KDUST and its foldable dome.