DYNAMICS OF WETTING FRONTS IN POROUS-MEDIA

We propose a phenomenological approach for describing the dynamics of wetting front propagation in porous media. Unlike traditional models, the proposed approach is based on the dynamic nature of the relation b etween capillary pressure and medium saturation. We choose a modified phase-field model of solidification as a particular case of such a dyn amic relation. We show that in the traveling wave regime the results o btained from our approach reproduce those derived from the standard mo del of flow in porous media. In a more general case, the proposed appr oach reveals the dependence of front dynamics upon the how regime. [S1 063-651X(98)51411-0].