Fluid–fluid phase separation in a soft porous medium

Various biological and chemical processes lead to the nucleation growth of non-wetting fluid bubbles within pore space a granular medium, such as formation gas in liquid-saturated lake-bed sediments. In sufficiently soft porous materials, nature these can result open cavities solid skeleton. Here, we consider this process through lens phase separation, where thermomechanics govern separation from fluid-fluid-solid mixture. We construct phase-field model informed by large-deformation poromechanics, which two immiscible fluids interact with poroelastic Our captures competing effects elasticity interactions. use damage capture mechanics solid. As problem, an initial distribution that separates into multiple cavities. simulations linear-stability analysis identify key parameters control conditions favour cavities, characteristic size resulting