Analysis of Flow through Layered Porous Media

摘要

In this work, we consider the steady flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid through a porous channel composed of two porous layers of different thicknesses. The two layers are assumed isotropic, yet of different permeabilities and porosities. The channel is terminated from below and above by impermeable, solid walls on which a no-slip condition is imposed. The interface between the layers is assumed to be sharp, and appropriate matching conditions on the velocity and shear stress are employed in obtaining analytical expressions for the velocity distribution in the layers. An expression for the velocity at the interface is obtained and shows the dependence of this velocity on the Darcy numbers, porosities, base viscosities of the flowing fluids, the viscosity factors, and the thicknesses of the layers involved. A four-step procedure is outlined to obtain values for the parameters involved, and to completely determine the velocity at the interface.