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Prediction of preferential fluid flow in porous structures based on topological network models: Algorithm and experimental validation

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Abstract

The understanding and prediction of preferential fluid flow in porous media have attracted considerable attention in various engineering fields because of the implications of such flows in leading to a non-equilibrium fluid flow in the subsurface. In this study, a novel algorithm is proposed to predict preferential flow paths based on the topologically equivalent network of a porous structure and the flow resistance of flow paths. The equivalent flow network was constructed using Poiseuille’s law and the maximal inscribed sphere algorithm. The flow resistance of each path was then determined based on Darcy’s law. It was determined that fluid tends to follow paths with lower flow resistance. A computer program was developed and applied to an actual porous structure. To validate the algorithm and program, we tested and recorded two-dimensional (2D) water flow using an ablated Perspex sheet featuring the same porous structure investigated using the analytical calculations. The results show that the measured preferential flow paths are consistent with the predictions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yang Ju, Peng Liu & Chun Chang

  2. State Key Laboratory for Geomechanics and Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Yang Ju & JiaBin Dong

  3. School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yang Ju & Chun Chang

  4. School of Resources and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, 100083, China

    Peng Liu

  5. Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100190, China

    DongShuang Zhang

  6. Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3800, Australia

    P. G. Ranjith

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  1. Yang Ju
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Correspondence to Yang Ju.

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Ju, Y., Liu, P., Zhang, D. et al. Prediction of preferential fluid flow in porous structures based on topological network models: Algorithm and experimental validation. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 61, 1217–1227 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-017-9171-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-017-9171-x

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