Start-up flow in a porous medium channel (Q1814906)

The transient fluid motion in a porous medium channel is considered. Frictional resistance induced by the solid matrix and the channel wall are accounted for by a Darcy's body force and a viscous shear stress, respectively. The adopted mathematical model leads to a one-parameter problem, in which the channel half-width, the porosity and the permeability are combined to form the parameter. Exact analytical solutions in terms of infinite series expansion are provided both for the start-up flow following the sudden imposition of a constant pressure gradient and for the transient motion induced by an instantaneously imposed flow rate. Time histories of the counterline velocity and the wall friction are presented, together with time-varying profiles. It is observed that the start-up time required to reach a steady state is significantly reduced in the less porous channels, and this reduction is more pronounced in the case when the start-up flow is driven by a pressure gradient than in the case when if the transient motion is forced by an imposed flow rate. It is a pleasure to read the article due to its nice presentation. The results are also interesting from the practical point of view.