A Theoretical Model of Hysteresis and Dynamic Effects in the Capillary Relation for Two-phase Flow in Porous Media

It is well known that the relationship between capillary pressure and saturation, in two-phase flow problems demonstrates memory effects and, in particular, hysteresis. Explicit representation of full hysteresis with a myriad of scanning curves in models of multiphase flow has been a difficult problem. A second complication relates to the fact that P ^c–S relationships, determined under static conditions, are not necessarily valid in dynamics. There exist P ^c–S relationships which take into account dynamic effects. But the combination of hysteretic and dynamic effects in the capillary relationship has not been considered yet. In this paper, we have developed new models of capillary hysteresis which also include dynamic effects. In doing so, thermodynamic considerations are employed to ensure the admissibility of the new relationships. The simplest model is constructed around main imbibition and drainage curves and assumes that all scanning curves are vertical lines. The dynamic effect is taken into account by introducing a damping coefficient in P ^c–S equation. A second-order model of hysteresis with inclined scanning curves is also developed. The simplest version of proposed models is applied to two-phase incompressible flow and an example problem is solved.     

Insights into the Relationships Among Capillary Pressure,Saturation, Interfacial Area and Relative Permeability Using Pore-Network Modeling

To gain insight in relationships among capillary pressure, interfacial area, saturation, and relative permeability in two-phase flow in porous media, we have developed two types of pore-network models. The first one, called tube model, has only one element type, namely pore throats. The second one is a sphere-and-tube model with both pore bodies and pore throats. We have shown that the two models produce distinctly different curves for capillary pressure and relative permeability. In particular, we find that the tube model cannot reproduce hysteresis. We have investigated some basic issues such as effect of network size, network dimension, and different trapping assumptions in the two networks. We have also obtained curves of fluid–fluid interfacial area versus saturation. We show that the trend of relationship between interfacial area and saturation is largely influenced by trapping assumptions. Through simulating primary and scanning drainage and imbibition cycles, we have generated two surfaces fitted to capillary pressure, saturation, and interfacial area (P _c –S _w –a _nw ) points as well as to relative permeability, saturation, and interfacial area (k _r –S _w –a _nw ) points. The two fitted three-dimensional surfaces show very good correlation with the data points. We have fitted two different surfaces to P _c –S _w –a _nw points for drainage and imbibition separately. The two surfaces do not completely coincide. But, their mean absolute difference decreases with increasing overlap in the statistical distributions of pore bodies and pore throats. We have shown that interfacial area can be considered as an essential variable for diminishing or eliminating the hysteresis observed in capillary pressure–saturation (P _c –S _w ) and the relative permeability–saturation (k _r –S _w ) curves.     

Two-phase geothermal flows with conduction and the connection with Buckley-Leverett theory

Two-phase flows of boiling water and steam in geothermal reservoirs satisfy a pair of conservation equations for mass and energy which can be combined to yield a hyperbolic wave equation for liquid saturation changes. Recent work has established that in the absence of conduction, the geothermal saturation equation is, under certain conditions, asymptotically identical with the Buckley-Leverett equation of oil recovery theory. Here we summarise this work and show that it may be extended to include conduction. In addition we show that the geothermal saturation wave speed is under all conditions formally identical with the Buckley-Leverett wave speed when the latter is written as the saturation derivative of a volumetric flow.Roman Letters C(P, S,q) geothermal saturation wave speed [ms^–1] (14) - c _t (P, S) two-phase compressibility [Pa^–1] (10) - D(P, S) diffusivity [m s^–2] (8) - E(P, S) energy density accumulation [J m^–3] (3) - g gravitational acceleration (positive downwards) [ms^–2] - h _w (P),h _w (P) specific enthalpies [J kg^–1] - J _M (P, S,P) mass flow [kg m^–2 s^–1] (5) - J _E (P, S,P) energy flow [J m^–2s^–1] (5) - k absolute permeability (constant) [m²] - k _w (S),k _s (S) relative permeabilities of liquid and vapour phases - K formation thermal conductivity (constant) [Wm^–1 K^–1] - L lower sheetC<0 in flow plane - m, c gradient and intercept - M(P, S) mass density accumulation [kg m^–3] (3) - O flow plane origin - P(x,t) pressure (primary dependent variable) [Pa] - q volume flow [ms^–1] (6) - S(x, t) liquid saturation (primary dependent variable) - S ^*(x,t) normalised saturation (Appendix) - t time (primary independent variable) [s] - T temperature (degrees Kelvin) [K] - T _sat(P) saturation line temperature [K] - TdT _sat/dP saturation line temperature derivative [K Pa^–1] (4) - T _c ,T _D convective and diffusive time constants [s] - u _w (P),u _s (P),u _r (P) specific internal energies [J kg^–1] - U upper sheetC > 0 in flow plane - U(x,t) shock velocity [m s^–1] - x spatial position (primary independent variable) [m] - X representative length - x, y flow plane coordinates - z depth variable (+z vertically downwards) [m] Greek Letters _P , _S remainder terms [Pa s^–1], [s^–1] - double-valued saturation region in the flow plane - h =h _s –h _w latent heat [J kg^–1] - = _w – _s density difference [kg m^–3] - line envelope - =D _K /D ₀ diffusivity ratio - porosity (constant) - _w (P), _s (P), _t (P, S) dynamic viscosities [Pa s] - v _w (P),v _s (P) kinematic viscosities [m²s^–1] - v ₀ =kh/KT kinematic viscosity constant [m² s^–1] - ₀ =v ₀ dynamic viscosity constant [m² s^–1] - _w (P), _s (P) density [kg m^–3] Suffixes r rock matrix - s steam (vapour) - w water (liquid) - t total - av average - 0 without conduction - K with conduction     

Capillary hyperdisperson of wetting liquids in fractal porous media

Recent displacement experiments show anomalously rapid spreading of water during imbibition into a prewet porous medium. We explain this phenomenon, calledhyperdispersion, as viscous flow along fractal pore walls in thin films of thicknessh governed by disjoining forces and capillarity. At high capillary pressure, total wetting phase saturation is the sum of thin-film and pendular stucture inventories:S _w =S _tf +S _ps . In many cases, disjoining pressure is inversely proportional to a powerm of film thicknessh, i.e. h _–m , so thatS _tf P _c ^–1/m. The contribution of fractal pendular structures to wetting phase saturation often obeys a power lawS _ps P _c ^(3–D), whereD is the Hausdorff or fractal dimension of pore wall roughness. Hence, if wetting phase inventory is primarily pendular structures, and if thin films control the hydraulic resistance of wetting phase, the capillary dispersion coefficient obeysD _c S _w ^v , where v=[3–m(4–D) ]/m(3–D). The spreading ishyperdispersive, i.e.D _c (S _w ) rises as wetting phase saturation approaches zero, ifm>3/(4–D),hypodispersive, i.e.D _c (S ₂) falls as wetting phase saturation tends to zero, ifm<3>D), anddiffusion-like ifm=3/(4–D). Asymptotic analysis of the capillary diffusion equation is presented.     

Dynamic interaction of various beams with the underlying soil – finite and infinite, half-space and Winkler models

Various beams lying on the elastic half-space and subjected to a harmonic load are analyzed by a double numerical integration in wavenumber domain. The compliances of the beam–soil systems are presented for a wide frequency range and for a number of realistic parameter sets. Generally, the soil stiffness G has a strong influence on the low-frequency beam compliance whereas the beam parameters EI and m^′ are more important for the high-frequency compliance. An important parameter is the elastic length l=(EI/G)^1/4 of the beam–soil system. Around the corresponding frequency ω_l=v_S/l, the wave velocity of the combined beam–soil system changes from the Rayleigh wave v_R≈v_S to the bending wave velocity v_B and the combined beam–soil wave has typically a strong damping. The interaction frequency ω_l is found not far from the characteristic frequency ω₀=(G/m^′)^1/2 where an amplification compared to the static compliance is observed for special parameter constellations. In contrast, real foundation beams show no resonance effects as they are highly damped by the radiation into the soil. At medium and high frequencies, asymptotes for the compliance of the beam–soil system are found, u/P(ρv_Paiω)^−3/4 in case of the dominating damping and u/P(−m^′ω²)^−3/4 for high frequencies. The low-frequency compliance of the coupled beam–soil system can be approximated by u/P1/Gl, but it also depends weakly on the width a of the foundation. All numerical results of different beam–soil systems are evaluated to yield a unique relation u/P₀=f(a/l). The integral transform method is also applied to ballasted and slab tracks of railway lines, showing the influence of train speed on the deformation of the track beam. The presented results of infinite beams on half-space are compared with results of finite beams and with infinite beams on a Winkler support. Approximating Winkler parameters are given for realistic foundation-soil systems which are useful when vehicle-track interaction is analyzed for the prediction of railway induced vibration.     

A moving dislocation in a magneto–electro-elastic solid

This work considers the generalized plane problem of a moving dislocation in an anisotropic elastic medium with piezoelectric, piezomagnetic and magnetoelectric effects. The closed-form expressions for the elastic, electric and magnetic fields are obtained using the extended Stroh formalism for steady-state motion. The radial components, E_rand H_r, of the electric and magnetic fields as well as the hoop components, D_θ and B_θ, of electric displacement and magnetic flux density are found to be independent of θ in a polar coordinate system. This interesting phenomenon is proven to be is a consequence of the electric and magnetic fields, electric displacement and magnetic flux density that exhibit the singularity r⁻¹ near the dislocation core. As an illustrative example, the more explicit results for a moving dislocation in a transversely isotropic magneto–electro-elastic medium are provided and the behavior of the coupled fields is analyzed in detail.     

Uniqueness of Specific Interfacial Area–Capillary Pressure–Saturation Relationship Under Non-Equilibrium Conditions in Two-Phase Porous Media Flow

The capillary pressure?Csaturation (P ^c?CS ^w) relationship is one of the central constitutive relationships used in two-phase flow simulations. There are two major concerns regarding this relation. These concerns are partially studied in a hypothetical porous medium using a dynamic pore-network model called DYPOSIT, which has been employed and extended for this study: (a) P ^c?CS ^w relationship is measured empirically under equilibrium conditions. It is then used in Darcy-based simulations for all dynamic conditions. This is only valid if there is a guarantee that this relationship is unique for a given flow process (drainage or imbibition) independent of dynamic conditions; (b) It is also known that P ^c?CS ^w relationship is flow process dependent. Depending on drainage and imbibition, different curves can be achieved, which are referred to as ??hysteresis??. A thermodynamically derived theory (Hassanizadeh and Gray, Water Resour Res 29: 3389?C3904, 1993a) suggests that, by introducing a new state variable, called the specific interfacial area (a ^nw, defined as the ratio of fluid?Cfluid interfacial area to the total volume of the domain), it is possible to define a unique relation between capillary pressure, saturation, and interfacial area. This study investigates these two aspects of capillary pressure?Csaturation relationship using a dynamic pore-network model. The simulation results imply that P ^c?CS ^w relation not only depends on flow process (drainage and imbibition) but also on dynamic conditions for a given flow process. Moreover, this study attempts to obtain the first preliminary insights into the global functionality of capillary pressure?Csaturation?Cinterfacial area relationship under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions and the uniqueness of P ^c?CS ^w?Ca ^nw relationship.     

Effect of inertia on thermoelastic flow instability

Thermal effects induced by viscous heating cause thermoelastic flow instabilities in curvilinear shear flows of viscoelastic polymer solutions. These instabilities could be tracked experimentally by changing the fluid temperature T₀ to span the parameter space. In this work, the influence of T₀ on the stability boundary of the Taylor–Couette flow of an Oldroyd-B fluid is studied. The upper bound of the stability boundary in the Weissenberg number (We)–Nahme number (Na) space is given by the critical conditions corresponding to the extension of the time-dependent isothermal eigensolution. Initially, as T₀ is increased, the critical Weissenberg number, We_c, associated with this upper branch increases. Increasing T₀ beyond a certain value T^* causes the thermoelastic mode of instability to manifest. This occurs in the limit as We/Pe → 0, where Pe denotes the Péclet number. In this limit, the fluid relaxation time is much smaller than the time scale of thermal diffusion. T₀ = T^* represents a turning point in the We_c–Na_c curve. Consequently, the stability boundary is multi-valued for a wide range of Na values. Since the relaxation time and viscosity of the fluid decrease with increasing T₀, the elasticity number, defined as the ratio of the fluid relaxation time to the time scale of viscous diffusion, also decreases. Hence, O(10) values of the Reynolds number could be realized at the onset of instability if T₀ is sufficiently large. This sets limits for the temperature range that can be used in experiments if inertial effects are to be minimized.     

Shear stress and normal stress measurements of aqueous polymer solutions in a cone-and-plate rheogoniometer

Summary The rheological behaviour of aqueous solutions of Separan AP-30 and Polyox WSR-301 in a concentration range of 10–10000 wppm is investigated by means of a cone-and-plate rheogoniometer. The relation between the shear stress and the shear rate is for lower shear rates characterized by a timet ₀, which is concentration dependent. Both polymers show for 4000 s^–1 < < 10000 s^–1 a behaviour similar to that of a Bingham material, characterized by a dynamic viscosity ₀ and an apparent yield stress ₀, which also depend on the concentration. The inertial forces are measured for water and some other Newtonian liquids. An explanation is given why the theoretical model developed for these forces does not match the experimental values; the shape of the liquid surface is shear rate dependent. To obtain the first normal stress difference, we have to correct for these inertial forces, the surface tension and the buoyancy. The normal forces, measured for Separan AP-30, appear to be a linear function of the shear rate for 350 s^–1 < < 3300 s^–1.

---

Zusammenfassung Das rheologische Verhalten wäßriger Polymerlösungen von Separan AP-30 und Polyox WSR-301 wird in einem Konzentrationsgebiet von 10–10000 wppm in einem Kegel-Platte-Rheogoniometer untersucht. Der Zusammenhang zwischen Schubspannung und Schergeschwindigkeit wird für niedrige Schergeschwindigkeiten durch eine konzentrationsabhängige Zeitt ₀ gekennzeichnet. Für Schergeschwindigkeiten 4000 s^–1 < < 10000 s^–1 zeigen beide Polymere ein genähert binghamsches Verhalten, gekennzeichnet durch eine dynamische Viskosität ₀ und eine scheinbare Fließgrenze ₀, welche ebenfalls konzentrationsabhängig sind. Die Trägheitskräfte werden für Wasser und einige newtonsche Öle bestimmt. Die Abweichung der experimentellen Ergebnisse vom theoretischen Modell wird durch die Abhängigkeit der Gestalt der Flüssigkeitsoberfläche von der Schergeschwindigkeit erklärt. Um die Werte der ersten Normalspannungsdifferenz zu erhalten, muß man bezüglich der Trägheitskräfte, der Oberflächenspannung und der Auftriebskräfte korrigieren. Die Normalspannungen für Separan AP-30, gemessen für 350 s^–1 < < 3300 s^–1, zeigen eine lineare Abhängigkeit von der Schergeschwindigkeit.

---

c concentration (wppm) - g acceleration of gravity (ms^–2) - K force (N) - K _b buoyant force (N) - K _c force, acting on the cone (N) - K ₀ dimensional constant def. by eq. [24] (N) - K _s force, def. by eq. [22] (N) - M dimensional constant def. by eq. [24] (Ns) - P _s pressure def. by eq. [17] (Nm^–2) - P ₀ average pressure in the liquid atr = 0 (Nm^–2) - P _R average pressure in the liquid atr = R (Nm^–2) - r ₁,r ₂ radii of curved liquid surface (m) - R platen radius (m) - R _w radius of wetted platen area (m) - S _x standard deviation ofx - t ₀ characteristic time def. by eq. [1] (s) - T temperature (°C) - V volume of the submerged part of the cone (m³) - v tangential velocity of liquid (ms^–1) - x distance (m) - angle (rad) - ₀ cone angle (rad) - calibration constant (Nm^–3) - shear rate (s^–1) - dynamic viscosity (mPa · s) - ₀ viscosity def. by eq. [1] (mPa · s) - contact angle (rad) - density (kgm^–3) - static surface tension (Nm^–1) - shear stress (Nm^–2) - ₀ yield stress def. by eq. [1] (Nm^–2) - _c, _p angular velocity (c = cone,p = plate) (s^–1) With 8 figures and 3 tables     

Extensional flow of polymer solutions through porous media

The flow behaviour of various polymer solutions of non-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, polyox and Xanthan was investigated in a plexiglass column having a succession of enlargements and constrictions, and compared with the flow behaviour and mechanical degradation of a solution of non-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide in a packed column of non-consolidated sand. The flow behaviour of this solution was found to be very similar in both the sand pack and plexiglass pore.Apart from the Xanthan solution, all other polymer solutions showed a viscoelastic behaviour in the plexiglass pore. The onset of viscoelastic behaviour, which has previously been defined using the shear rate ( ), stretch rate ( _s ) and Ellis number (E ₁), could be more precisely evaluated using a modified stretch rate (S _G). The pressure losses across the plexiglass pore for different polymer solutions of the same type were found to follow a unique curve provided the suggested group (S _G) was used, a situation which was not achieved with the other rheological parameters.The multipass mechanical degradation of the non-hydrolized polyacrylamide was tested through the sand pack against the suggested group (S _G) and Maerker's group (M _a). It was found that the loss of the solution viscoelasticity due to multipass mechanical degradation was better represented usingS _G thanM _a. A cross-sectional area (cm²) - C ^* critical concentration of polymer (ppm) - d plexiglass pore enlargement diameter - D average sand grain diameter (cm) - e equivalent width for the plexiglass pore - E ₁ Ellis number (a Deborah number) - F _R resistance factor - F _Ri resistance factor at the first pass - h height of the flow path of the plexiglass pore - K power-law constant - K _h,K _w effective permeability to hydrocarbon and water, respectively (10^–8 cm²) - M _a Maerker's group for a given porosity (s^–1) - M _ai value ofM _a at the first pass - N _D Deborah number - n power-law index - Q flow rate (cm³/s) - R capillary radius (cm) - R _g radius of gyration - S _G suggested group of rheological parameters representing a modified maximum stretch rate (s^–1) - S _Gi value ofS _G at the first pass - T _R,t characteristic time for the fluid (s) - t _s residence time (s) - V ₀ superficial velocity (cm/s) - V mean velocity of flow through a porous medium (cm/s) - average axial velocity in the enlargement section of the plexiglass pore (cm/s) - V ₁,V ₂ maximum velocity at a plexiglass enlargement neck and centre - [] intrincis viscosity - viscosity (mPa s) - _r relative viscosity (ratio of the viscosity of the polymer solution to that of the solvent) - shear rate (s^–1) - _s stretch rate (s^–1) - characteristic time for the polymer solution (s)     

On the number of droplets in aerosols

The number of droplets which may be formed with a supersaturated vapor in presence of a gas cannot exceed a number proportional to (p_v−p_v0)⁴ where p_v and p_v0 denote at the same temperature the pressure of the supersaturated vapor–gas mixture and the pressure of the saturated vapor–gas mixture. The energy necessary to the droplet formation is also bounded by a number proportional to (p_v−p_v0)².     

Capillary Pressure Curve for Liquid Menisci in a Cubic Assembly of Spherical Particles Below Irreducible Saturation

The capillary pressure–saturation relationship, P _c(S _w), is an essential element in modeling two-phase flow in porous media (PM). In most practical cases of interest, this relationship, for a given PM, is obtained experimentally, due to the irregular shape of the void space. We present the P _c(S _w) curve obtained by basic considerations, albeit for a particular class of regular PM. We analyze the characteristics of the various segments of the capillary pressure curve. The main features are the behavior of the P _c(S _w) curve as the wetting-fluid saturation approaches zero, and as this saturation is increased beyond a certain critical value. We show that under certain conditions (contact angle, distance between spheres, and saturation), the value of the capillary pressure may change sign.     

Consecutive chemical reactions in an annular reactor with non-newtonian flow

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the homogeneous consecutive chemical reactions carried out in an annular reactor with non-Newtonian laminar flow. The fluids are assumed to be characterized by a Ostwald-de Waele (powerlaw) model and the reaction kinetics is considered of general order. Effects of flow pseudoplasticity, dimensionless reaction rate constants, order of reaction kinetics and ratio of inner to outer radii of reactor on the reactor performances are examined in detail.Nomenclature c _A concentration of reactant A, g.mole/cm³ - c _B concentration of reactant B, g.mole/cm³ - c _A0 inlet concentration of reactant A, g.mole/cm³ - C ₁ dimensionless concentration of A, c _A/c _A0 - C ₂ dimensionless concentration of B, c _B/c _A0 - C ₁ dimensionless bulk concentration of A - C ₂ dimensionless bulk concentration of B - D _A molecular diffusivity of A, cm²/sec - D _B molecular diffusivity of B, cm²/sec - k _A first reaction rate constant, (g.mole/cm³)^1–m /sec - k _B second reaction rate constant, (g.mole/cm³)^1–n /sec - K ₁ dimensionless first reaction rate constant, k _A r ₀ ² c _A0 ^m–1 /D _A - K ₂ dimensionless second reaction rate constant, k _B r ₀ ² c _A0 ^n–1 /D _B - K apparent viscosity, dyne(sec) ^m /cm² - m order of reaction kinetics - n order of reaction kinetics - P pressure, dyne/cm² - r radial coordinate, cm - r _i radius of inner tube, cm - r _max radius at maximum velocity, cm - r _o radius of outer tube, cm - R dimensionless radial coordinate, r/r _o - s reciprocal of rheological parameter for power-law model - u local velocity, cm/sec - u _max maximum velocity, cm/sec - u bulk velocity, cm/sec - U dimensionless velocity, u/u - z axial coordinate, cm - Z dimensionless axial coordinate, zD _A/r ₀ ² /u - ratio of molecular diffusivity, D _B/D _A - ratio of inner to outer radius of reactor, r _i/r _o - ratio of radius at maximum velocity to outer radius, r _max/r _o     

Structuration de la convection mixte en milieu poreux confiné latéralement et chauffé par le bas : effets d''inertiePattern formation of mixed convection in a porous medium confined laterally and heated from below: effect of inertia

We consider the onset of convection in a porous medium heated from below and subjected to a horizontal mean flow. The effect of porous inertia is studied, and the transverse aspect ratio a of the medium is taken into accout. We find that the dominant modes are longitudinal rolls (L.R) if a is an integer or transverse traveling rolls (T.R) if a is below a_c with a_c<1. When a is not an integer with a>a_c, the setting on patterns are oscillatory three-dimensional structures (3D) for a>1 or T.R for a_c<a<1 provided that the Reynolds number remains below a critical value Re_K^*. We show that these structures are replaced by L.R if Re_K>Re_K^*. To cite this article: A. Delache et al., C. R. Mecanique 330 (2002) 885–891.     

Effect of solids concentration in dense suspensions of silica-iron(III) oxide and water

The rheological properties of dense suspensions, of silica, iron (III) oxide and water, were studied over a range of solids concentrations using a viscometer, which was modified so as to prevent settling of the solid components. Over the conditions studied, the material behaved according to power—law flow relationships. As the concentrations of silica and iron(III) oxide were increased, an entropy term in the flow equation was identified which had a silica dependent and an iron (III) oxide dependent component. This was attributed to a tendency to order into some form of structural regularity. A, A, B, C pre-exponential functions (K Pa^–n s^–1) - C _ox volume fraction iron (III) oxide - Q activation energy (kJ mol^–1) - R gas constant (kJ mol^–1 K^–1) - R _v silica/water volume ratio - T temperature (K) - n power-law index - H enthalpy (kJ mol^–1) - S entropy change (kJ mol^–1 K^–1) - shear strain rate (s^–1) - shear stress (Pa)     

Diffusion of moisture in deformable porous media. Anisotropic fibrous materials

This paper presents a study on the deformation of anisotropic fibrous porous media subjected to moistening by water in the liquid phase. The deformation of the medium is studied by applying the concept of effective stress. Given the structure of the medium, the displacement of the solid matrix is not taken into account with respect to the displacement of the liquid phase. The transport equations are derived from the model proposed by Narasimhan. The transport coefficients and the relation between the variation in apparent density and effective stress are obtained by test measurements. A numerical model has been established and applied for studying drip moistening of mineral wool samples capable or incapable of deformation.Nomenclature D mass diffusion coefficient [L²t^–1] - e void fraction - g gravity acceleration [Lt^–2] - J mass transfer density [ML^–2t^–1] - K hydraulic conductivity [Lt^–1] - K _s hydraulic conductivity of the solid phase [Lt^–1] - K ^* hydraulic conductivity of the deformable porous medium [Lt^–1] - P pressure of moistening liquid [ML^–1 t^–2] - S degree of saturation - t time [t] - V speed [Lt^–1] - X horizontal coordinate [L] - Z vertical coordinate measured from the bottom of porous medium [L] - z z-coordinate [L] Greek Letters porosity - ₁ total hydric potential [L] - _g gas density [ML^–3] - ₁ liquid density [ML^–3] - ₀ apparent density [ML^–3] - _s density of the solid phase [ML^–3] - density of the moist porous medium [ML^–3] - external load [ML^–1t^–2] - effective stress [ML^–1t^–2] - bishop's parameter - matrix potential or capillary suction [L] Indices g gas - 1 moistening liquid - p direction perpendicular to fiber planes - s solid matrix - t direction parallel to fiber planes - v pore Exponent * movement of solid particles taken into account     

Conversion of longitudinal waves into electromagnetic radiation in a slowly varying plasma under W.K.B. approximation

This paper investigates the conversion of a dispersive longitudinal oscillation into reflected and transmitted electromagnetic radiation fields in slowly varying unmagnetized warm fluid plasmas, using W.K.B. approximations. The expressions for the power of the transmitted and reflected electromagnetic radiations, generated by electron acoustic waves, have also been obtained. It is shown that this conversion process becomes most efficient under certain conditions.

Nomenclature

In § 2 H magnetic field - H ₁ - u electron fluid velocity - k _t wave number of the transverse wave - k ₁ wave number of the longitudinal wave in electron fluid - m electronic mass - N ₀ number density of electrons in the unperturbed state - N perturbation in the electron number density - p perturbation in the electron fluid pressure - v _e adiabatic sound velocity of the electron fluid - K _t ² c ^{2 2}–e² - K ₁ ² v _e ^{2 2}–e² - wave frequency - _e electron plasma frequency - 1– _e ² / ² - c velocity of light in vacuum In § 3 K ₀ wave number in the 0X direction - K ₁ ² K ₁ ² –K ₀ ² - K ₂ ² K _t ² –K ₀ ² - K ₃ K ₁–K ₂ - K ₄ K ₁+K ₂ - K ₅ (K ₁ K ₂)^1/2 See Appendix A - A ₁ pressure amplitude of the reflected part of the incident wave - B ₁ pressure amplitude of the transmitted part of the incident wave - L characteristic length of variation ofN ₀ - e _x unit vector along 0X - e _z unit vector along 0Z In § 4 S _t Poynting flux of the transverse electromagnetic radiation - S _tZ ^/t Average of the transmitted part of the poynting flux along 0Z over the time period 2/ - S _tZ ^/r Average of the reflected part of the poynting flux along 0Z over the time period 2/ In § 5 S ₁ Energy flux carried by the longitudinal pressure wave - S _1Z ^/t Average of the transmitted part ofS ₁ along 0Z over the time period 2/     

Effect of material nonhomogeneities on the HRR dominance

This work studies the asymptotic stress and displacement fields near the tip of a stationary crack in an elastic–plastic nonhomogeneous material with the emphasis on the effect of material nonhomogeneities on the dominance of the crack tip field. While the HRR singular field still prevails near the crack tip if the material properties are continuous and piecewise continuously differentiable, a simple asymptotic analysis shows that the size of the HRR dominance zone decreases with increasing magnitude of material property gradients. The HRR field dominates at points that satisfy |α⁻¹ ∂α/∂x_δ|1/r, |α⁻¹ ∂²α/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², |n⁻¹ ∂n/∂x_δ|1/[r|ln(r/A)|] and |n⁻¹ ∂²n/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/[r²|ln(r/A)|], in addition to other general requirements for asymptotic solutions, where α is a material property in the Ramberg–Osgood model, n is the strain hardening exponent, r is the distance from the crack tip, x_δ are Cartesian coordinates, and A is a length parameter. For linear hardening materials, the crack tip field dominates at points that satisfy |E_tan⁻¹ ∂E_tan/∂x_δ|1/r, |E_tan⁻¹ ∂²E_tan/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², |E⁻¹ ∂E/∂x_δ|1/r, and |E⁻¹ ∂²E/(∂x_δ ∂x_γ)|1/r², where E_tan is the tangent modulus and E is Young’s modulus.