Finite element analysis of coupled heat, mass, and pressure transfer in porous biomaterials

The finite element method was used to solve Luikov's system of partial differential equations for heat, mass, and pressure transfer in capillary porous bodies. The finite element predictions were validated by comparing with exact solutions and the analytical results given by Mikhailov and Shishedjiev [1]. An application of the finite element method to the drying of wood (spruce) and a comparison based on an eigenvalue solution for simultaneous heat and mass transfer [2] are also provided. This technique was applied to study the coupled transport process in a silicon gel. The simulation indicated that the results obtained from the heat, mass, and pressure transfer model showed a marked difference from the results obtained by the heat and mass transfer model.