Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026

Exploring the Effects of Atmospheric Forcings on Evaporation: Experimental Integration of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Shallow Subsurface
Published on: June 8, 2015
MRI evidence for a receding-front effect in drying porous media
1Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Navier (UMR8205), ENPC-IFSTTAR-CNRS, 2 Allée Kepler, Champs sur Marne, France. emmanuel.k@gmail.com
Abstract:
After drying colloidal particles suspended in a porous medium a concentration gradient appears. Using ^{1}H MRI we propose a protocol to observe simultaneously the distributions of air, liquid, and colloid through the unsaturated solid porous structure. Thus we show that the above phenomenon comes from a receding-front effect: The elements migrate towards the free surface of the sample and accumulate in the remaining liquid films. Our understanding of the process makes it possible to establish a simple model without diffusion predicting the drying rate and the concentration distribution in time, in excellent agreement with the experimental observations.
More Related Videos
08:38Microfluidic Devices for Characterizing Pore-scale Event Processes in Porous Media for Oil Recovery Applications
Published on: January 16, 2018
07:14Tracking Infiltration Front Depth Using Time-lapse Multi-offset Gathers Collected with Array Antenna Ground Penetrating Radar
Published on: May 1, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Drying Shrinkage
A portion of this drying shrinkage can be reversed; if the concrete is...
Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
Porosity and Absorption of Aggregate
When all pores in an aggregate are filled with water, the aggregate is considered saturated and surface-dry. If left in dry air, water will evaporate until the aggregate...