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Wave propagation in porous media containing a dilute gas–liquid mixture: theory and experiments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 1997

D. M. J. SMEULDERS
Affiliation:
Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5028, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands
M. E. H. VAN DONGEN
Affiliation:
Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Abstract

The influence of a small amount of gas within the saturating liquid of a porous medium on acoustic wave propagation is investigated. It is assumed that the gas volumes are spherical, homogeneously distributed, and that they are within a very narrow range of bubble sizes. It is shown that the compressibility of the saturating fluid is determined by viscous, thermal, and a newly introduced Biot-type damping of the oscillating gas bubbles, with mean gas bubble size and concentration as important parameters. Using a super-saturation technique, a homogeneous gas–liquid mixture within a porous test column is obtained. Gas bubble size and concentration are measured by means of compressibility experiments. Wave reflection and propagation experiments carried out in a vertical shock tube show pore pressure oscillations, which can be explained by incorporating a dynamic gas bubble behaviour in the linear Biot theory for plane wave propagation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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