PuMA: the Porous Microstructure Analysis software

• Main Authors: Joseph C. Ferguson, Francesco Panerai, Arnaud Borner, Nagi N. Mansour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2018-01-01
• Series: SoftwareX
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352711018300281

The Porous Microstructure Analysis (PuMA) software has been developed in order to compute effective material properties and perform material response simulations on digitized microstructures of porous media. PuMA is able to import digital three-dimensional images obtained from X-ray microtomography or to generate artificial microstructures. PuMA also provides a module for interactive 3D visualizations. Version 2.1 includes modules to compute porosity, volume fractions, and surface area. Two finite difference Laplace solvers have been implemented to compute the continuum tortuosity factor, effective thermal conductivity, and effective electrical conductivity. A random method has been developed to compute tortuosity factors from the continuum to rarefied regimes. Representative elementary volume analysis can be performed on each property. The software also includes a time-dependent, particle-based model for the oxidation of fibrous materials. PuMA was developed for Linux operating systems and is available as a NASA software under a US & Foreign release. Keywords: Microtomography, Oxidation, Conductivity, Tortuosity factor, Porous media