Percolation theory for flow in porous media. With a foreword by John Selker. (Q2276632)

The goal of this book is to use the percolation theory for the study of transport phenomena in porous media. The main tool is the critical path analysis. Starting with the complicated microscopic geometry of the medium, the author detects ``irrelevant'' pores and links (by using specific procedures, related also to statistical aspects), he cuts ``negligible'' elements, and finally obtains macroscopic properties (most important are permeability, residual fluid content, and diffusion properties). The author uses also fractal models for porous media. An important element in the above analysis is the ``representative elementary unit'' -- r.e.u. A different tool for flows in porous media is the homogenization theory: here r.e.u. is a periodicity cell, the medium is periodic, and the macroscopic properties are obtained by an averaging procedure, starting with microscopic elements. The book contains 8 chapters. First, some elements in percolation theory, properties and fractal models for porous media are given. Critical path analysis is studied in chapter 3. Last chapters contain applications in following fields: constitutive relations, critical volume fraction for percolation, correlation length, clusters statistics, multi-scale heterogeneity. This book is of large interest for hydrologists and physicists.