Gas‐phase flow resistance of metal foams: Experiments and modeling

Based on experimental results of gas flow resistance through two metal foams, NC 2733 and Ni 2733, a modeling is performed to adjudicate governing flow mechanism. Two essential models are considered: developing laminar flow within short capillary channel (i.e., foam pore) and flow around solid body (foam strut modeled as cylinder or sphere), each of them of some variants. Foam geometry was studied using computer microtomography. The model of flow around a sphere (diameter equal to strut thickness) gives the best conformity with experiments.