DARCY-BRINKMAN FLOW IN A ROTATING CHANNEL FILLED WITH AN ANISOTROPIC POROUS MEDIUM
C. Y. Wang
Abstract
The forced flow due to a pressure gradient in a rotating channel filled with an anisotropic porous medium is studied. The rotation axis and one principal axis of the permeability tensor are normal to the channel walls. The Darcy-Brinkman equations under a rotating frame are solved analytically. The problem depends on the rotation rate and the lateral permeabilities, but not the normal permeability. The fluid velocity has a primary component in the direction of the pressure gradient and a secondary transverse component due to the Coriolis forces. The criterion for convex velocity profile depends on the difference between the lateral permeabilities. The flow rates in the longitudinal and transverse directions are related to the rotation rate and the lateral permeabilities (normalized as Darcy numbers). Tables for a wide range of anisotropic Darcy numbers and rotation parameters are presented. The physical properties are discussed. Applications include fluid motion in striated or fractured rock formations.