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Theoretical study and simulation of moisture transport in unsaturated porous media by periodic homogenization
Author(s) -
Mchirgui W.,
Millet O.,
Amiri O.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal for numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1096-9853
pISSN - 0363-9061
DOI - 10.1002/nag.2315
Subject(s) - homogenization (climate) , porous medium , moisture , porosity , richards equation , water content , asymptotic homogenization , materials science , mathematics , mechanics , thermodynamics , geotechnical engineering , physics , geology , composite material , finite element method , biodiversity , ecology , biology
Summary In this work, the macroscopic Richards equation for moisture transport is established in unsaturated porous media using periodic homogenization. By performing dimensional analysis on microscopic equations of moisture transfer, dimensional numbers characterizing moisture transport appear. The application of the asymptotic homogenization leads to the classical Richards equation, which is justified rigorously this way. Moreover, we obtain an accurate definition of the homogenized diffusion tensor of moisture involving the geometric properties of the microstructure and known transport properties of the material. A different behavior for the transport of water vapor between hygroscopic and super‐hygroscopic region is revealed. Finally, a simple 2D example where an analytical solution exists is addressed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.