Special Issue on Emerging Trends in Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Media in Honour of Donald A. Nield

This Special Issue is dedicated to the memory of Professor D.A. Nield, who passed away on May 25, 2024. Don Nield spent most of his career at the University of Auckland. Don was one of the main figures in developing the theory of convection in porous media. Among his many achievements, he co-authored the seminal book Convection in Porous Media with Adrian Bejan, a work that has become a cornerstone in the field. Nield's pioneering research developed the mathematical frameworks and models essential for understanding fluid flow, heat transfer, and flow instabilities in porous structures, with his publications becoming indispensable references for scholars worldwide.

This Special Issue, prepared by Don’s collaborators and colleagues in his honor, presents a comprehensive collection of research that advances our understanding of convection and transport phenomena in porous media. The issue opens with an autobiography by Professor Nield, reflecting on his extensive contributions to the study of porous media. The following papers explore a diverse array of topics critical to addressing complex transport phenomena in fields such as energy systems, environmental engineering, and materials science. These studies examine advanced computational methods like large eddy simulations, pore-resolved modeling, and deep learning, providing fresh insights into the behavior of porous media under various conditions. Noteworthy contributions include research on anomalous diffusion in the Darcy-Bénard problem, instabilities in turbulent porous media flow, morphing porous media for optimized flow systems, and mixed convection for species separation in thermogravitational columns. The issue also covers topics such as the critical inclination for 2D convection, boundary layer mixed convection using nonequilibrium models, and Kelvin-Voigt models in double-diffusive porous convection. Cutting-edge investigations into electromagnetic flow in porous media, thermal tortuosity via deep learning, and liquid jet impingement through porous metal foams further enrich the discussion. Additionally, innovative approaches to modeling hydrologic and geological features, optimizing process parameters in resin transfer molding, and understanding electrokinetic behavior near conducting surfaces highlight the interdisciplinary nature of current research in porous media.