Rayleigh-Bénard percolation transition study of thermal convection in porous media: numerical simulation and NMR experiments

Thermal convection was studied as a function of the porosity in random-site percolation model objects in a Rayleigh-Bénard configuration. NMR velocity mapping experiments and numerical simulations using the finite-volume method are compared. Velocity histograms were evaluated and can be described by power laws in a wide range. The maximum velocity as a function of the porosity indicates a combined percolation/Rayleigh-Bénard transition.