Speaker
Description
Liquid–gas dynamics within intricate pore networks serve as a typical example of a complex system. While the underlying physics at a local scale is well understood, the behavior of the system as a whole remains challenging to predict. This study seeks to uncover fundamental statistical relationships in porous media from the perspective of geometry and energy. To isolate the influence of pore shape (ink-bottle effect) from contact angle hysteresis, we introduce Pore Characteristic Units (PCU). At this scale, characteristic correlations between interfacial areas and liquid saturation (Vw/Vpore) are identified, controlled by pore geometry and contact angle. Building on this, we propose a 3D conceptual model that describes changes in geometry and free energy as liquid redistributes. The model provides analytical expressions for the system's surface free energy (G) and capillary pressure (Pc). While Pc is directly related to G at equilibrium, this link breaks under non-equilibrium conditions. Wetting–drying cycles produce an unconventional hysteresis loop in the G–Vw relationship due to inevitable energy dissipation. This dissipation, which occurs as the contact line advances or recedes, is proportional to the area swept by the moving contact line, emphasizing the irreversible nature of hysteresis. Together, these results provide a foundation for establishing statistical, characteristic rules governing complex porous media.
| Country | China |
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