Capillary transport in paper porous materials at low saturation levels: Normal, fast or superfast?: Normal, fast or superfast diffusion?

Alex V. Lukyanov, Vladimir V. Mitkin, Tristan Pryer, Penpark Sirimark, Theo G. Theofanous

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The problem of capillary transport in fibrous porous materials at low levels of liquid saturation has been addressed. It has been demonstrated that the process of liquid spreading in this type of porous material at low saturation can be described macroscopically by a similar super-fast, nonlinear diffusion model to that which had been previously identified in experiments and simulations in particulate porous media. The macroscopic diffusion model has been underpinned by simulations using a microscopic network model. The theoretical results have been qualitatively compared with available experimental observations within the witness card technique using persistent liquids. The long-term evolution of the wetting spots was found to be truly universal and fully in line with the mathematical model developed. The result has important repercussions for the witness card technique used in field measurements of the dissemination of various low-volatility agents in imposing severe restrictions on collection and measurement times.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20200491
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Volume476
Issue number2244
Early online date23 Dec 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Dec 2020

Keywords

  • capillary flows
  • fibrous materials
  • porous media
  • superfast diffusion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mathematics(all)
  • Engineering(all)
  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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