Fine Particle Percolation Dynamics in Porous Media

Abstract

The influences of restitution coefficient, $e_n$, inter-particle friction, $\mu$, and size ratio, $R$, on gravity-driven percolation of fine particles through static beds of larger particles in the free-sifting regime ($R \gtrsim 6.5$) remain largely unexplored. Here we use discrete element method simulations to study the fine particle percolation velocity, $v_p$, and velocity fluctuations, $v_{rms}$, for $7 \le R \le 50$ and a range of $e_n$ and $\mu$. Increasing $e_n$ increases velocity fluctuations and reduces percolation velocity. Increasing $\mu$ decreases $v_{rms}$ but its influence on $v_p$ varies with $v_{rms}$, decreasing $v_p$ for low $v_{rms}$ and increasing $v_p$ for high $v_{rms}$. Although the influence of size ratio is weaker, larger values of $R$ increase both $v_p$ and $v_{rms}$. We also assess the influence of different excitation mechanisms, specifically using static, randomly excited, and sheared beds, finding that an inverse correlation between $v_p$ and $v_{rms}$ persists across all cases and is well-described by the Drude model, where increased scattering reduces mobility, when $v_{rms}$ is large. However, for weakly excited particles with low $v_{rms}$, the Drude analogy breaks down. In this regime, we introduce a staircase-inspired model that accounts for the gravitationally dominated percolation behavior. These findings provide fundamental insight into the mechanisms governing percolation dynamics in porous media and granular systems.