| Summary: | Existing numerical techniques for modeling saturated deformable porous media are based on
homogenization techniques and thus are incapable of performing micro-mechanical investigations, such as the effect of micro-structure on the deformational characteristics of the media. In this research work, a numerical scheme is developed based on the parallelized hybrid lattice-Boltzmann finite-element method, that is capable of performing micro-mechanical investigations through direct numerical
simulations.
The method has been used to simulate compression of model saturated porous media made of
spheres and cylinders in regular arrangements. Through these simulations it is found that in the limit of small Reynolds number, Capillary number and strain, the deformational behaviour of a real porous media can be recovered through model porous media when the parameters porosity, permeability and bulk compressive modulus are matched between the two media.
This finding motivated research in using model porous geometries to represent more complex
real porous geometries in order to perform investigations of deformation on the latter. An attempt has been made to apply this technique to the complex geometries of ªfeltº, (a fibrous mat used in paper industries). These investigations lead to new understanding on the effect of fiber diameter on the bulk properties of a fibrous media and subsequently on the deformational behaviour of the media. Further the method has been used to investigate the constitutive relationships in deformable porous media.
Particularly the relationship between permeability and porosity during the deformation of the media is investigated. Results show the need of geometry specific investigations.
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