Analysis of Performance and Applicable Scenarios of Anti-Hail Nets with Different Materials and Structural Types

Anti-hail nets are important agricultural protective facilities, mainly used to buffer the impact of hailstones and reduce crop damage. At the same time, they can meet production needs such as field lighting, ventilation, wind resistance, and snow drainage. According to key parameters such as material, mesh shape, color, and erection structure, anti-hail nets can be classified into various types. Different categories have differences in mechanical performance, protective effect, environmental adaptability, service life, and comprehensive cost, and can adapt to different climate conditions, planting patterns, and protection levels.

I.Classification by Material

The material determines the structural strength, service life and aging resistance of the hail prevention net, and also affects the cost-effectiveness. Different materials have different applicability in various scenarios, service life and investment costs.

1.High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) hail prevention net

This type of material is currently widely used in the market. It features a lightweight texture, good toughness, resistance to acids and alkalis, and is not prone to corrosion. It can meet the requirements for regular hail impact protection. The overall cost is moderate, and its normal service life can reach 3 to 8 years. It is suitable for conventional hail prevention scenarios such as fields, orchards, and facility agriculture.

2.Polyester/Nylon Anti-hail Net

This type of material has good tensile strength and tear resistance, and its overall structure is stable. It is suitable for areas with frequent hail occurrences and strong hail impact forces. Polyester and nylon materials have a relatively low tolerance to chemical agents and saline-alkali environments. When placed in complex field environments for a long time, they are prone to aging and material brittleness. The selection should be made based on local soil, water quality, and pesticide usage conditions.

3.Metal hail prevention net (lead wire/steel wire)

The structural strength and durability of the metal hail prevention net are outstanding. It is suitable for high-value economic crop planting areas, long-term fixed planting areas, or areas prone to hail. The net itself is relatively heavy, which requires higher standards for the construction of supports and foundations, and the overall construction cost is relatively high. At the same time, it has a large shading area, which may have a certain impact on the photosynthesis of crops. It is mostly used in special protection scenarios and is not suitable for large-scale deployment on ordinary farmland.

II.Classification by Mesh Shape and Specification

The shape and size of the mesh directly affect the impact resistance, light transmission and ventilation effect, installation difficulty, and material consumption of the hail prevention net. These are important technical indicators in the selection process.

1. Mesh Shape

（1）Rhombic Mesh

This is a commonly used structure in the industry, with good elasticity and extensibility. When subjected to external force impact, it can disperse the impact force of hailstones. It has good resistance to pulling and deformation. Due to its structural characteristics, reasonable expansion and contraction space needs to be reserved during the laying process, and there are certain requirements for the accuracy of construction operations.

（2）Square/Rectangular Mesh

The shape is regular and the force distribution is uniform, which is convenient for measurement, cutting and laying. The construction and field operation efficiency is relatively high. Under the same mesh size conditions, the performance of dispersing hailstone impact is slightly lower than that of rhombic mesh, and it is suitable for farmland plots that prioritize simple and rapid laying.

（3）Triangular Mesh

The geometric structure has good stability. After local force application, it is unlikely to cause large-scale deformation. However, the processing technology is cumbersome, the laying difficulty is high, and the applicable scenarios are limited. It is mostly used in park reinforcement, customized protective projects, and is less commonly used in ordinary farmland scenarios.

2. Mesh Specifications

The smaller the mesh openings, the more effective the hail prevention will be. Correspondingly, the shading and wind-blocking effects will also be enhanced, but the investment cost will increase. The commonly used specifications on the market include 6 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 1.2 cm and 1.5 cm. These specifications can balance the protection, light transmission conditions, and usage cost, and are suitable for most common scenarios.

III. Classification by Color

1.White

It has a wide application range and a shading rate of 10%~15%. It has little interference with light intensity and spectral structure, and can maintain a natural light environment. It is suitable for most crops and planting areas.

2.Black

The shading rate ranges from 15%~22%. It has a significant shading and cooling effect, can regulate field temperature and light intensity, optimize the ratio of chlorophyll in crops’ leaves, and is suitable for planting areas with strong sunlight and high temperatures or for crops that are tolerant to shade.

3.Blue

It can increase the proportion of blue light entering the field, promote the compact growth of crop plant structures and the thick development of leaves, improve the nutritional growth state of crops, and is suitable for vegetable and flower planting scenarios that have requirements for light quality.

4.Green

The green net can increase the proportion of green light passing through the field, and its stabilizing effect on the growth state of crops is relatively better than that of the ordinary net.

IV. Classification by MountingStructure

The raising structure affects the overall stability, load-bearing capacity, and ease of later maintenance of the hail prevention net, and is related to the safety during extreme weather conditions.

1.Gable-type structure

This type is currently widely used and presents a two-way sloping shape. It has good wind resistance and can reduce wind resistance. At the same time, it is convenient for hail and snow to slide down along the slope, reducing the damage and collapse caused by the load pressure on the net surface, resulting in good operational stability and a long service life, and is suitable for areas with frequent hail, heavy snowfall, and strong winds.

2.Planar/Horizontal-type structure

This structure is simple in design, has a straightforward construction process, and has a low cost. It is convenient for field machinery operations and daily passage by personnel. The net surface is flat, which is conducive to the accumulation of hail, rain, and snow. When the load is concentrated, it is prone to cause the net surface to tear, the supports to bend, and even the overall structure to be damaged. It is suitable for areas with less hail, less snowfall, and only basic protection.

V.Other Classification Methods and Technological Development

In addition to the above-mentioned mainstream classification methods, the hail prevention nets can also be classified into integrated categories such as three-in-one, six-in-one, and nine-in-one based on their combination forms. They can simultaneously achieve multiple functions such as protection, pest prevention, and shading. With the development of standardized facilities agriculture, the installation process of the hail prevention nets has been continuously optimized. The overall stiffness of the European frame ground anchor structure remains stable, and the structural stability and uplift resistance are good. It is mostly used in the construction of systems with higher protection standards, which can enhance the overall operational reliability in strong winds, heavy snow, and other weather conditions.

VI. Conclusion

Considering the overall protective effect, durability, light transmission and ventilation conditions, as well as economic cost, the HDPE material diamond-shaped mesh hail prevention net with anti-aging additives is suitable for most agricultural production scenarios. The erection form can adopt a roof ridge structure, which can enhance wind resistance, hail prevention, and snow drainage capabilities, and reduce the risk of structural collapse. During actual selection, it is possible to combine local climate characteristics, crop types, investment budget, and field management conditions to reasonably match the mesh size, net color, and installation method, taking into account both safety protection and efficient agricultural production, and achieving a balance of comprehensive benefits.