Airflow Measurement across Negatively-Infiltration Processed Porous Aluminium Structures

Abstract

Detailed structural characterization and experimental measurement of airflow across open-celled aluminium foam structures with near-spherical cells varying in pore sizes and interstices are presented herein. The aluminium foam structures were produced by infiltrating liquid aluminium into convergent gaps created by packed beds of near-spherical hydrosoft salt beds varying in particle sizes, packing densities and infiltration pressures. A quantitative assessment of the unit pressure drops developed across these structures show that viscous and inertial terms of these structures were observed to greatly depend on the shape and structural macroscopic parameters of the porous medium.