Saturation evolution induced by inner pore structural effects in a porous material during wetting

A series of experiments was conducted to observe the transport phenomena in wood during wetting using a micro CT (scanning analysis technology). Both saturation evolution and corresponding liquid transfer are nondestructively investigated for both pendular and funicular mode at pore structure level in porous media. A method was proposed to obtain the important real inner structure information of porous media, as well as saturation profile and evolution, and corresponding liquid migration. From experimental observations, the pendular and funicular mode could be identified distinctly, and their transport behavior induced by inner structural effects was explored based on local pore structural information. And particularly, the dynamical saturation evolution and corresponding existence of distinct accumulation states were further discussed for the pendular mode.