A numerical method for two-phase flow in fractured porous media with non-matching grids

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Code:
44/2012
Title:
A numerical method for two-phase flow in fractured porous media with non-matching grids
Date:
Friday 19th October 2012
Author(s):
Fumagalli, A.; Scotti, A.
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Abstract:
We propose a novel computational method for the efficient simulation of two-phase flow in fractured porous media. Instead of refining the grid to capture the flow along the faults or fractures, we represent them as immersed interfaces with a reduced model for the flow and suitable coupling conditions. We allow for non matching grids between the porous matrix and the fractures to increase the flexibility of the method in realistic cases. We employ the extended finite element method for the Darcy problem and a finite volume method that is able to handle cut cells and matrix-fracture interactions for the saturation equation. The choice of a suitable flux function in the case of discontinuous flux function at the interface between the fracture and the porous matrix is also addressed through numerical experiments.
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Advances in Water Resources