Average momentum equation for interdendritic flow in a solidifying columnar mushy zone

This paper deals with the derivation of the macroscopic momentum transport equation in a non-homogeneous solidifying columnar dendritic mushy zone using the method of volume averaging. One of the originalities of this study lies in the derivation of an associated closure problem for the determination of the spatial evolution of the effective transport properties in such a complex situation. In this analysis—where the phase change has been included at the different stages of the derivation—all the terms arising from the averaging procedure (geometrical moments, phase interactions, interfacial momentum transport due to phase change, porosity gradients, etc.) are systematically estimated and compared on the basis of the characteristic length-scale constraints associated with the porous structures presenting evolving heterogeneities. For dendritic structures with “moderate” (but not small) evolving heterogeneities, we show that phase change and non local effects could hardly affect the determination of the permeability and inertia tensors. Finally, a closed form of the macroscopic momentum equation is proposed and a discussion is presented about the need to consider inertia terms and the second Brinkman correction (explicitly involving gradients of the liquid volume fraction) in such non-homogeneous systems.