Compaction-Induced Non-Monotonic Variation of Longitudinal Dispersion Coefficient in Granular Media

Yang Liu; Wenbo Gong; Han Xiao; Moran Wang

doi:10.69631/an65j282

Authors

Yang Liu Tsinghua University, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2300-9436
Wenbo Gong Tsinghua University, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Beijing, China
Han Xiao Tsinghua University, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Beijing, China
Moran Wang Tsinghua University, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Beijing, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0112-5150

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69631/an65j282

Keywords:

Compaction, Dispersion coefficient, Pore network model, Porous media

Abstract

This study numerically investigates the impact of compaction on the longitudinal dispersion coefficient of granular materials by integrating the discrete element method with the pore network model. The results reveal a non-monotonic relationship between the dispersion coefficient and compaction. Specifically, the dispersion coefficient can decrease by up to 20% or increase by nearly 50% in magnitude. Furthermore, we define the variation in the dispersion coefficient, denoted as κ, which exhibits three distinct regimes across different Péclet numbers Pe. This non-monotonic behavior arises because compaction influences dispersion mechanisms in multiple ways. As the porous medium becomes more compact, the influence of molecular diffusion weakens, while both mechanical dispersion and hold-up dispersion intensify. This study identifies new sources and behaviors of hold-up dispersion that were not detected by classical dispersion theory. Specifically, hold-up dispersion arises in regions with weak flow, distinguishing it from zero-velocity zones, such as dead-ends or the interiors of permeable grains, as described in classical dispersion theories. Moreover, the newly identified hold-up dispersion is active only within intermediate ranges of Pe (10^-1<Pe<10^-3). The interplay between reduced molecular diffusion and enhanced hold-up and mechanical dispersion, along with shifts in dominant dispersion mechanisms across varying Pe, results in multiple regimes in the κ − Pe curve. Additionally, the study demonstrates that compaction alters the pore structure by reducing pore size and changing the topology of the pore network. However, changes in topology counteract the effects of reduced pore size by limiting the increase in flow disorder. Thus, the influence of compaction on dispersion is closely linked to mechanical physics. Our study provides unique insights into the structural design and modulation of the dispersion coefficient of porous materials.

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Author Biography

Moran Wang, Tsinghua University, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Beijing, China

Moran Wang is a Professor of Fluid Mechanics and Thermophysics at Tsinghua University. He obtained Bachelor and PhD degrees from Tsinghua University, and held postdoc positions in Johns Hopkins University and University of California of USA. He worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory as an Oppenheimer Fellow. He has been a full professor at Tsinghua University since 2011. He is working on micro/nanoscale fluid mechanics in porous media, multiscale modeling, nonlinear heat & mass transfer, and interfacial science. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed papers on international journals which gained over 12,000 citations based on Google Scholar Reports (H-index: 55). Prof. Wang has been serving as editorial board members for several international journals including “International Journal of Mechanical Sciences”, “Energy Science and Engineering”, “Journal of Colloids and Interface Science”, “Transport in Porous Media”, “Journal of Porous Media” and so on. He has been invited to contribute comprehensive reviews on “Physics Reports”, “Material Science and Engineering R: Reports”, “Progress in Materials Science” and so on. He was awarded J.R. Oppenheimer Fellowship in 2008, Interpore P&G Award in 2019 and Fellow of IMMS in 2022.

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