Three dimensional simulation of fluid flow in granular material microstructure
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Fluid flow in three-dimensional (3-D) microstructures is simulated using a finite difference numerical scheme. This numerical scheme uses the non-staggered grid system that uses one computational cell only to solve the governing equations of steady incompressible flow. Fluid flow is simulated in idealized 3-D microstructures to verify the numerical model. These idealized microstructures are a medium of small fissures and a medium of packed cubes. In these idealized microstructures, the numerical solution of the governing equations is controlled using periodic boundary conditions. The numerical results compared well with the closed-form solutions for permeability of these media. Simulation of fluid flow in a real granular material is also presented in this study. The X-ray computed tomography (CT) system was used to capture the 3-D microstructure of this granular material.
