1

a) b) c)
0.8

0.6

ν⋅
0.4

0.2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
S
1 1
d) e)
0.8 0.8

0.6 0.6

S
ν⋅

0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
S ζ
Figure 37: Bimodal network structure 3: phase distributions at saturations (a) 0.85 and
(b) 0.54 as well as (c) normalized drying curve for one MC simulation; (d) distribution of
normalized drying curves and (e) average saturation profiles for 100 network realizations.

1
a)
1
b)
0.8
0.8

0.6 0.6
⋅
S
ν

oνly vertical 0.4

0.4 macro chaννels
0.2
0.2
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
0 ζ
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
S
Figure 38: Three-dimensional bimodal networks: (a) distribution of normalized drying curves
(for the case of vertical macro channels, only the median of the distribution is shown) and
(b) average saturation profiles (for vertical macro channels) for 50 network realizations.

At last, three-dimensional extensions of network structures 1 and 2 are considered (Figure

38), by introducing macro channels (20.7% of total pore volume) into the cubic network of
Section 2.4.2. Due to the third dimension, the micro pores form a continuous phase for both
cases; therefore, the orientation of the macro channels does not matter and the drying curves
are very similar. In contrast to the mono-modal network (Figure 34) a first drying period can
be observed (due to more and better distributed wet surface throats). Saturation profiles are