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Theory Of Breakup Of Core Fluids Surrounded By A Wetting Annulus In Sinusoidally Constricted Capillary Channels, Igor A. Beresnev, Wen Deng

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Analysis of core-annular dynamics in the presence of base flow for arbitrary fluid viscosities leads to an equation describing the temporal evolution of the fluid/fluid interface. The equation follows from the conservation of mass in the "small-slope" approximation. Its useful applications occur, for example, in chemical engineering and petroleum recovery. The nonlinear equation allows inexpensive numerical analysis. For sinusoidally constricted pores, a purely geometric criterion exists that enables or prohibits the core-fluid breakup in the necks of the constrictions. The geometrically favoring condition sets up capillary-pressure gradients that ensure a continuous outflow of the core fluid from the necks into …