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Physics and Astrophysics Research Seminar Series

Wetting-dewetting hysteresis in porous and fractured media

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Seminars

As part of the School of Science and Technology's Physics and Astrophysics Research Seminar Series, Ran Holtzman, Coventry University presents: Wetting-dewetting hysteresis in porous and fractured media.

  • From: Wednesday 27 November 2019, 1 pm
  • To: Wednesday 27 November 2019, 2 pm
  • Location: 015, CELS, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Campus, Clifton Lane, Nottingham, NG11 8NS
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Event details

As part of the School of Science and Technology's Physics and Astrophysics Research Seminar Series, Ran Holtzman, Coventry University presents: Wetting-dewetting hysteresis in porous and fractured media.

Abstract

Hysteretic wetting-dewetting cycles are ubiquitous in various natural and industrial applications, from soil moisture, contamination, carbon sequestration and hydrocarbon recovery to filtering, microfluidics and coating processes. Consequently, the relationship between the key variables in continuum models for multiphase flow (e.g. Richards), capillary pressure and saturation, is hysteretic. Despite its importance, existing retention models remain phenomenological.

We derive a physically-sound model, where all parameters have clear physical meaning. We consider quasi-static displacements in a Hele–Shaw cell of random gap spacing (a simple proxy of a rough fracture), resolving the sequence of interfacial equilibrium configurations from a local pressure balance (energy minima). The model is implemented numerically through simple synchronous updating (RFIM-like) rules of extreme computational efficiency, and validated against laboratory experiments of known, controlled microstructure. Our model provides fundamental understanding of the link between pore-scale capillary processes in disordered media, Haines jumps, and sample-scale hysteresis. Our findings offer constitutive relations required for reservoir simulators, and pave the way for upscaling two-phase displacements in porous and fractured materials.

This seminar is hosted by Lucas Goehring & Ian Shuttleworth

All Welcome

For any enquires please contact Ian Shuttleworth

Location details

Room/Building:

015, CELS

Address:

Nottingham Trent University
Clifton Campus
Clifton Lane
 Nottingham
 NG11 8NS

Past event

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