Multiphase flow in the vascular system of wood: From microscopic exploration to 3-D Lattice Boltzmann experiments

• Published in: International journal of multiphase flow Vol. 36; no. 8; pp. 599 - 607
• Main Authors: Frank, X., Almeida, G., Perré, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3D modelling; Agricultural sciences; Bifurcations; Biological and medical sciences; Development Biology; Dynamical systems; Dynamics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Image processing; Lattice Boltzmann; Lattices; Life Sciences; Morphology; Morphology, anatomy, histology, cytology; Multiphase; Multiphase flow; Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution; Spermatophyta; Vascular; Vegetal Biology; Vessels; Wood; Lattice Boltzmann; Wood; 3D modelling; Image processing; Multiphase; Morphology; Vascular; Boltzmann equation; Multiphase flow; Capillary flow; Anatomy; Experimental study; Hydrophily; Three dimensional flow; Vascular bundle; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Lattice model; Numerical simulation; Spermatophyta; Betula pendula; Betulaceae
• ISSN: 0301-9322; 1879-3533
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2010.04.006

This paper provides insights into liquid free water dynamics in wood vessels based on Lattice Boltzmann experiments. The anatomy of real wood samples was reconstructed from systematic 3-D analyses of the vessel contours derived from successive microscopic images. This virtual vascular system was then used to supply fluid–solid boundary conditions to a two-phase Lattice Boltzmann scheme and investigate capillary invasion of this hydrophilic porous medium. Behavior of the liquid phase was strongly dependent on anatomical features, especially vessel bifurcations and reconnections. Various parameters were examined in numerical experiments with ideal vessel bifurcations, to clarify our interpretation of these features.