3D NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF FLUID FLOW THROUGH OPEN-CELL METAL FOAMS USING MICRO-TOMOGRAPHY IMAGES

In this research, a 3D simulation of fluid flow in open-cell foams with a porosity percentage of 85, 90, 95, and 98 was performed on the basis of meshing their computed micro-tomography (mu CT) images. The finite volume method with a high-quality structured hexahedral element grid was used to discretize the equations. Results show that the pressure gradient (dP/dx) increased by a decrease in porosity, and decreased by an increase in the inlet velocity. Also, by an increase in porosity percentage, the linear and nonlinear term coefficients of the pressure gradient equation (-dP/dx = alpha u + beta u(2)) vary between 1116 < alpha < 11595 (kg.m(-3).s(-1)) and 210 < beta < 3186 (kg.m(-4)), respectively By comparing the results obtained from the simulation and the experimental results obtained from other studies, it was specified that if the Reynolds number is less than 1, the flow is in the laminar (or Darcy flow) zone, and a transient flow is attained at Reynolds numbers above. In other words, it can be concluded that the numerical results are found in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.