title: Dynamic length-scale characterization and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics of transport in open-cell foams.
abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of scale dependent dynamics in a random solid open-cell foam reveal a characteristic length scale for transport processes in this novel type of porous medium. These measurements and lattice Boltzmann simulations for a model foam structure indicate dynamical behavior analogous to lower porosity consolidated granular porous media, despite extremely high porosity in solid cellular foams. Scaling by the measured characteristic length collapses data for different foam structures as well as consolidated granular media. The nonequilibrium statistical mechanics theory of preasymptotic dispersion, developed for hierarchical porous media, is shown to model the hydrodynamic dispersive transport in a foam structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717-3920, USA.
authors.forename: Tyler R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Brosten
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Codd
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Seymour
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009038:Motion; D016062:Porosity