InterPore2026

Thin Film Flow: Fluid Transport via Thin Liquid Films in Slow Porous Media Flows

19 May 2026, 11:20

15m

Oral Presentation (MS09) Pore-Scale Physics and Modeling MS09

Speaker

Dr Marcel Moura (PoreLab - University of Oslo)

Description

In porous media, fluid transport typically occurs through an interconnected network of pore bodies and throats, referred to here as the primary network. During drainage, when a non-wetting phase displaces a wetting phase (e.g., air displacing water in a porous rock), thin films of the wetting phase often remain adhered to grain surfaces. Under certain conditions, these residual films can merge to form a secondary network composed of interconnected films and capillary bridges. This network can significantly enhance the medium's connectivity and create additional pathways for fluid transport, beyond those of the primary network [1-3].

We present experiments performed in transparent, micromodel-like porous networks that allow for direct visualization of these secondary pathways. Our observations show that fluid domains disconnected in the primary network can become effectively connected via thin films. This alternative transport mechanism has important implications for environmental and geophysical processes, including pollutant dispersion in soils and nutrient delivery to plant roots in dry conditions. Additionally, we will present preliminary results indicating that transport through thin films can play a significant role in mixing processes within porous media, further underlining their functional importance.