Permeability characterization. Part 1: A proposed standard reference fabric for permeability

A three‐dimensionally woven fabric is proposed as a standard reference material for permeability characterization. The 3‐D woven fabric requires care in cutting and handling, although it is more robust than 2‐D woven or braided fabrics. If prepared carefully, the permeability of the 3‐D woven fabric can be measured reproducibly within 15% in either radial flow or saturated 1‐D flow geometries. The material was characterized for permeability in radial, unsaturated and saturated 1‐D, and through‐thickness flow geometries. The transient results demonstrated the importance of structural heterogeneity on the unsaturated flow behavior, and agree qualitatively with a simplistic model of flow in heterogeneous unsaturated porous media. The effects of heterogeneity were manifested in the proposed SRM by an increasing trend in the “unsaturated permeability.” Experiments were also conducted with a random mat that displayed transient flows dominated by wicking. The effects of wicking on the macroscopic flow behavior were manifested by transients in the “unsaturated permeability” in which a decreasing trend was observed.