Multiscale modeling of multiphysics in porous media

Many real-world applications in engineering and science involve porous media that consist of a solid skeleton with a fluid-filled pore-system.

Classical theories of continuum mixtures for porous media suffer from drawbacks: They (i) require individual experimental calibration for each microstructure topology, and (ii) are far from trivial to establish for complex multi-physics processes.In this project, we establish and exploit detailed models at the pore-scale in conjunction with accurate and efficient numerical approaches for scale-bridging to obtain effective models at the macro-scale.

The project tasks are to (1) develop the fully non-linear fluid-solid-interaction problem at the pore scale, (2) extend the model to multiphysics interactions involving Electro-Chemo-Thermo-Mechanics, (3) apply effective upscaling and virtual testing to obtain macroscopic properties, (4) utilize Numerical Model Reduction for efficient numerical solution, and (5) to apply the methodology to a model problem with validation based on experiments.

As a model problem, we shall study the so-called Structural Battery Electrolyte (SBE).

The SBE is a porous medium where ion-transport (diffusion, migration and convection) in the pore-system interacts with mechanical loads that are sustained by the solid skeleton.

Such electro-chemo-thermo-mechanical interactions need to be considered both at the length scale of the pores and in terms of effective properties at the macro-scale.