Statistical aspects of flow in a random network of channels (Q1111873)

This paper presents a detailed statistical analysis of Hagen-Poiseuille flow in plane random isotropic networks of interconnected channels. The emphasis is on statistico-geometrical features of networks that affect macroscopic permeability. It is shown that permeability of a network depends on its average co-ordination number, the first two moments of the channel length distribution and other explicitly identifiable geometrical features. Distributions of flow rates in channels and average flow rates are established by minimization of the rate of energy dissipation. Theoretical developments are interpreted in the context of classical statistical mechanics. Analytical results are illustrated and verified using numerical analysis of flow in a simulated random network.