Abstract

Critical analysis of fractal-based bundle-of-tubes models for capillary absorption in porous materials

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Abstract

In recent years, various analytical models for spontaneous imbibition in porous materials have been introduced in the litera¬ture, many of which are based on a bundle-of-tubes approach combined with the fractal power-law distribu¬tion. After their validation these models often claim that their foundation on proper imbibition physics provides better insights on the capillary absorption in porous materials. This paper casts a critical look on some of these recent fractal-bundle-of-tubes-based spontaneous-imbibi¬ti¬on models, revealing a myriad of dubious and/or defective features in each of these models, which undermine the dependabili¬ty of their model develop¬ment and validation.

Keywords: Porous materials, moisture transfer, capillary absorption, fractal approach, bundle-of-tubes

How to Cite:

Janssen, H., (2025) “Critical analysis of fractal-based bundle-of-tubes models for capillary absorption in porous materials”, UCL Open Environment 7(S1). doi: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444/ucloe.icmb25.a16

Rights: Author, [2025]