title: Geometrical Description of Contact Line Fluctuations in Heterogeneous Systems with Controlled Wettability.
abstract: The understanding of contact line fluctuations in heterogeneous systems of controlled wettability is relevant to many industrial processes. Despite its importance, it is poorly understood. Here, we present results on an experimental study of fluid displacement on modified Hele-Shaw cells with surface defects as heterogeneities. The system wettability is controlled by defect surface coverage. Three different surface coverage regimes were studied. For each one, the morphology and deformation energy of the displacement front is determined. The width front is described in terms of two exponents, the roughness exponent (alpha) and the one that describes its growth (beta). In all cases, it is found that the width increases logarithmically in time up to a characteristic value, where a crossover to a saturation behavior is observed. The crossover time is a function of the surface coverage. For low coverage 0.51</=beta</=0.59 and 0.65</=alpha</=0.67. For medium and high coverage the values obtained for the exponents are similar to those of directed percolation. The deformation energy associated with the displacement front morphology makes it possible to identify the individual pinning role of the surface defects. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
authors.affiliation: Reservoir Department, PDVSA Intevep, Caracas, 1070 A, Venezuela
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Araujo