Numerical Modelling

Some results using Flow 3D software

Examples of Flow 3D interfaces

Numerical modelling can provide insight into the imbibition phenomenon. To highlight the role of certain parameters, the use of Flow 3D is a useful software. Modeling allows to focus and explore more quickly the interdependence of the parameters, which saves a lot of time compared to experimentation.

This software allows us to design the properties of fluid and geometries that were used during some experiments. A simple case to take over the software is a water drop uppon a flat surface.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/c4908e_55e8878d749843919e143c4199408431/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Key parameters studies

The strategy to show the role of a parameter was to fix all the others and change the value of the one we want to study. For example, we fixed the diameter of the drop, the viscosity and the surface tension of the fluid and studied the wettability with the variations of the contact angles.

The results were naturally compared to the literature and experiments to define the accuracy of our modeling. .

Water drop upon a porous medium

Here a video from the modelling that could represent the 3D printing process.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/c4908e_41a2dfff59de470eb962c110f33e535a/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Finaly, it seems better to modify the rheological properties of the droplet with some additives to slow down the transport inside of the porous medium and thus be able to reach higher accuracy..