Computer Simulation of 3-D Liquid Transport in Fibrous Materials

Abstract

Liquid movement in 3-D fibrous materials is studied in this article by means of Monte Carlo simulation based on the Ising model with so-called Kawasaki kinetics. Computer simulation algorithms are then developed in accordance with the standard liquid wicking rate tests from both EDANA and INDA, and the simulation results provide information of liquid wicked into computer-generated fiber assemblies as a function of time. The work focuses mainly on the relationship between fiber orientation and the liquid wicking rate, while other geometrical parameters of the fiber mass remain fixed. Furthermore, this simulation also presents dynamic data of both liquid mass uptake and energy changes of the system. The results are in agreement with known experimental evidence.