Discrete Element Modelling and Micro-Computed Pore-Scale Hydrodynamic Behaviour of Open-Cell Foams

Abstract

Pore-scale computational modelling is today the standard paradigm for availing ourselves high fidelity porous materials models by linking its micro-structural arrangement and macroscopic behaviour. This work presents virtual and semi-virtual porecale approach to characterized the pressure drop across "bottleneck-type" porous metals using discrete element simulation (DEM) packing of spheres and X-ray computerized tomography slices, respectively. Flow permeability and Form drags were obtained by fitting computed pressure drop against superficial fluid velocity into Darcy-Forchheimer equation. The high-resolution X-ray CT pore-scale computation approach provides a more literal description of the foam microstructural arrangement with a deviation of 2.3% (permeability) and 9.6% (Forchheimer coefficient) from reality whilst the easily and more flexible DEM structure yielded a deviation of 8.8 and 1.2% of both terms from reality.