Abstract

AbstractA computational analysis of viscous flow across hexagonal arrays of fiber bundles of elliptical cross section, each consisting of up to 350 individual filaments, is carried out using the Boundary Element Method. Such arrays are non‐isotropic dualporosity systems, characterized by the aspect ratio (λ) of the fiber bundles, their inter‐ (ϕi) and intra‐tow (ϕt) porosities as well as by the number (Nf) of filaments within each bundle. The results, in terms of the hyraulic permeability (K) of these arrays, are compared to earlier analytical models and a good agreement is found. A dimensionless correlation, earlier proposed for arrays of circular cross section, is used to reduce the computed permeabilities for bundles of aspect ratio λ = 2 and λ = 3 on a single master curve. This correlation offers a simple model for the calculation of the permeability of such dual porosity systems form knowledge of ϕi, ϕt, λ and Nf. By considering bulk flow along the two principal directions of the fiber bundle, we also compare the two principal permeabilities of such arrays.

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