Permeability characteristics of multilayer fiber reinforcements. Part II: Theoretical model

Abstract The permeability characteristics of multilayer fiber networks generally differ from those of the constituent layers. In heterogeneous assemblies, the effective in‐plane permeabilities and flow anisotropies are governed by the high permeability layers or directions. Based on the observation that a transverse flow mechanism contributes to filling the low permeability layers, a semipermeable wall model has been constructed to analyze encroaching flows into multilayer systems. The model identifies three flow regimes: a region in which the layers act independently and are governed by single layer solutions, a region in which the layers act as a unified homogeneous system governed by the single layer solution with weighted average properties, and a region intermediate to these extremes. A comparison of model simulations and experimental data demonstrates that the model has good predictive capabilities.