MRI velocimetry and lattice-Boltzmann simulations of viscous flow of a Newtonian liquid through a dual porosity fibre array

Viscous flow through fibrous porous media has considerable importance in a number of industrial processes including, in particular, resin transfer molding. In this paper magnetic resonance flow imaging techniques are used to visualize flow of a Newtonian liquid through a dual porosity structure. Of particular interest in these studies is the transition in the flow as the liquid moves from the open region into the fiber array. The ability of lattice-Boltzmann simulations to predict the visualized flow fields is presented and discussed.