Pore Network and Fluid Permeability in Fibrous and Particle Beds with Large Porosity: Evaluation of Pore Structure and Hydraulic Radius Based on Voronoi Tessellation

The relationship between fluid permeability and pore structure in fibrous bed with large porosity has been investigated. Fibrous beds expressed by particle model and random particle beds were used for the permeation media having different pore structures and solid volume fractions. The permeability was calculated by Stokesian dynamics (SD) approach on the assumption of the Stokes flow. Pore structure analysis was performed on the basis of Voronoi tessellation, which enabled the extraction of pore bodies and their links. From these information, we suggested one way to estimate the hydraulic radius. The results of the hydraulic radius were uniquely related to the permeability calculated by SD method. The hydraulic radius suggested in the present study could be useful to predict fluid permeability by considering internal pore structure as well as solid volume fraction.