Adaptive meshing in a mixed regime hydrologic simulation model

Problems in hydrology frequently have moving fronts and dynamic driving mechanisms such as wells. Since the location of important features changes during a simulation, accurate modeling requires uniformly fine resolution or the ability to change resolution during the simulation. We will describe an algorithm for refinement and unrefinement of tetrahedral/triangular meshes that has been implemented in the adaptive hydrology (ADH) code. The codes including the refinement/unrefinement algorithms are implemented in parallel to accommodate problems with large run time and memory requirements. In this paper, we describe the parallel, adaptive grid algorithm used in ADH and show the resulting grids from some example problems.     

A robust mesh optimisation method for multiphase porous media flows

Flows of multiple fluid phases are common in many subsurface reservoirs. Numerical simulation of these flows can be challenging and computationally expensive. Dynamic adaptive mesh optimisation and related approaches, such as adaptive grid refinement can increase solution accuracy at reduced computational cost. However, in models or parts of the model domain, where the local Courant number is large, the solution may propagate beyond the region in which the mesh is refined, resulting in reduced solution accuracy, which can never be recovered. A methodology is presented here to modify the mesh within the non-linear solver. The method allows efficient application of dynamic mesh adaptivity techniques even with high Courant numbers. These high Courant numbers may not be desired but a consequence of the heterogeneity of the domain. Therefore, the method presented can be considered as a more robust and accurate version of the standard dynamic mesh adaptivity techniques.     

Review of the algebraic linear methods and parallel implementation in numerical simulation of groundwater flow

The desire to increase spatial and temporal resolution in modeling groundwater system has led to the requirement for intensive computational ability and large memory space. In the course of satisfying such requirement, parallel computing has played a core role over the past several decades. This paper reviews the parallel algebraic linear solution methods and the parallel implementation technologies for groundwater simulation. This work is carried out to provide guidance to enable modelers of groundwater systems to make sensible choices when developing solution methods based upon the current state of knowledge in parallel computing.     

Dispersion modeling of air pollutants in the atmosphere: a review

Modeling of dispersion of air pollutants in the atmosphere is one of the most important and challenging scientific problems. There are several natural and anthropogenic events where passive or chemically active compounds are emitted into the atmosphere. The effect of these chemical species can have serious impacts on our environment and human health. Modeling the dispersion of air pollutants can predict this effect. Therefore, development of various model strategies is a key element for the governmental and scientific communities. We provide here a brief review on the mathematical modeling of the dispersion of air pollutants in the atmosphere. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks of several model tools and strategies, namely Gaussian, Lagrangian, Eulerian and CFD models. We especially focus on several recent advances in this multidisciplinary research field, like parallel computing using graphical processing units, or adaptive mesh refinement.     

Integration of local–global upscaling and grid adaptivity for simulation of subsurface flow in heterogeneous formations

We propose a methodology, called multilevel local–global (MLLG) upscaling, for generating accurate upscaled models of permeabilities or transmissibilities for flow simulation on adapted grids in heterogeneous subsurface formations. The method generates an initial adapted grid based on the given fine-scale reservoir heterogeneity and potential flow paths. It then applies local–global (LG) upscaling for permeability or transmissibility [7], along with adaptivity, in an iterative manner. In each iteration of MLLG, the grid can be adapted where needed to reduce flow solver and upscaling errors. The adaptivity is controlled with a flow-based indicator. The iterative process is continued until consistency between the global solve on the adapted grid and the local solves is obtained. While each application of LG upscaling is also an iterative process, this inner iteration generally takes only one or two iterations to converge. Furthermore, the number of outer iterations is bounded above, and hence, the computational costs of this approach are low. We design a new flow-based weighting of transmissibility values in LG upscaling that significantly improves the accuracy of LG and MLLG over traditional local transmissibility calculations. For highly heterogeneous (e.g., channelized) systems, the integration of grid adaptivity and LG upscaling is shown to consistently provide more accurate coarse-scale models for global flow, relative to reference fine-scale results, than do existing upscaling techniques applied to uniform grids of similar densities. Another attractive property of the integration of upscaling and adaptivity is that process dependency is strongly reduced, that is, the approach computes accurate global flow results also for flows driven by boundary conditions different from the generic boundary conditions used to compute the upscaled parameters. The method is demonstrated on Cartesian cell-based anisotropic refinement (CCAR) grids, but it can be applied to other adaptation strategies for structured grids and extended to unstructured grids.     

自适应网格在复杂地形浅水方程求解中的应用

计算域内地形的概化精度对模拟结果有较大影响,针对实际地形中同时存在狭长河谷与广阔泛洪区的问题,在层次自适应网格模型的基础上,研究了网格快速加密与合并的步骤,并以水位梯度与局部弗劳德数为基础设计了网格自适应准则,当水流运动情势变化时网格密度自动调整,实现计算精度与效率的平衡。在此网格模型基础上,采用有限体积法求解二维浅水方程,利用梯度限制器技术及龙格-库塔法提高模型的空间、时间计算精度。算例表明,层次自适应网格模型既能实现随水流运动动态变化并捕获水位计算敏感区,也能对局部区域进行静态固定加密,自适应性良好,具有较好的推广应用价值。     

Performance enhancement of a GIS-based facility location problem using desktop grid infrastructure

This paper presents the integration of desktop grid infrastructure with GIS technologies, by proposing a parallel resolution method in a generic distributed environment. A case study focused on a discrete facility location problem, in the biomass area, exemplifies the high amount of computing resources (CPU, memory, HDD) required to solve the spatial problem. A comprehensive analysis is undertaken in order to analyse the behaviour of the grid-enabled GIS system. This analysis, consisting of a set of the experiments on the case study, concludes that the desktop grid infrastructure is able to use a commercial GIS system to solve the spatial problem achieving high speedup and computational resource utilization. Particularly, the results of the experiments showed an increase in speedup of fourteen times using sixteen computers and a computational efficiency greater than 87 % compared with the sequential procedure.     

Sensitivity Analysis of a Combined Groundwater Flow and Solute Transport Model Using Local-Grid Refinement: A Case Study

Combining groundwater flow models with solute transport models represents a common challenge in groundwater resources assessments and contaminant transport modeling. Groundwater flow models are usually constructed at somewhat larger scales (involving a coarser discretization) to include natural boundary conditions. They are commonly calibrated using observed groundwater levels and flows (if available). The groundwater solute transport models may be constructed at a smaller scale with finer discretization than the flow models in order to accurately delineate the solute source and the modeled target, to capture any heterogeneity that may affect contaminant migration, and to minimize numerical dispersion while still maintaining a reasonable computing time. The solution that is explored here is based on defining a finer grid subdomain within a larger coarser domain. The local-grid refinement (LGR) implemented in the Modular 3D finite-difference ground-water flow model (MODFLOW) code has such a provision to simulate groundwater flow in two nested grids: a higher-resolution sub-grid within a coarse grid. Under the premise that the interface between both models was well defined, a comprehensive sensitivity and uncertainty analysis was performed whereby the effect of a parameter perturbation in a coarser-grid model on transport predictions using a higher-resolution grid was quantified. This approach was tested for a groundwater flow and solute transport analysis in support of a safety evaluation of the future Belgian near-surface radioactive waste disposal facility. Our reference coarse-grid groundwater flow model was coupled with a smaller fine sub-grid model in two different ways. While the reference flow model was calibrated using observed groundwater levels at a scale commensurate with that of the coarse-grid model, the fine sub-grid model was used to run a solute transport simulation quantifying concentrations in a hypothetical well nearby the disposal facility. When LGR coupling was compared to a one-way coupling, LGR was found to provide a smoother flow solution resulting in a more CPU-efficient transport solution. Parameter sensitivities performed with the groundwater flow model resulted in sensitivities at the head observation locations. These sensitivities identified the recharge as the most sensitive parameter, with the hydraulic conductivity of the upper aquifer as the second most sensitive parameter in regard to calculated groundwater heads. Based on one-percent sensitivity maps, the spatial distribution of the observations with the highest sensitivities is slightly different for the upper aquifer hydraulic conductivity than for recharge. Sensitivity analyses were further performed to assess the prediction scaled sensitivities for hypothetical contaminant concentrations using the combined groundwater flow and solute transport models. Including all pertinent parameters into the sensitivity analysis identified the hydraulic conductivity of the upper aquifer as the most sensitive parameter with regard to the prediction of contaminant concentrations.     

Progress and Challenges in Coupled Hydrodynamic-Ecological Estuarine Modeling

Numerical modeling has emerged over the last several decades as a widely accepted tool for investigations in environmental sciences. In estuarine research, hydrodynamic and ecological models have moved along parallel tracks with regard to complexity, refinement, computational power, and incorporation of uncertainty. Coupled hydrodynamic-ecological models have been used to assess ecosystem processes and interactions, simulate future scenarios, and evaluate remedial actions in response to eutrophication, habitat loss, and freshwater diversion. The need to couple hydrodynamic and ecological models to address research and management questions is clear because dynamic feedbacks between biotic and physical processes are critical interactions within ecosystems. In this review, we present historical and modern perspectives on estuarine hydrodynamic and ecological modeling, consider model limitations, and address aspects of model linkage, skill assessment, and complexity. We discuss the balance between spatial and temporal resolution and present examples using different spatiotemporal scales. Finally, we recommend future lines of inquiry, approaches to balance complexity and uncertainty, and model transparency and utility. It is idealistic to think we can pursue a “theory of everything” for estuarine models, but recent advances suggest that models for both scientific investigations and management applications will continue to improve in terms of realism, precision, and accuracy.     

电磁波场数值计算中时间域有限差分法与时间域伪谱法的对比研究

为提高电磁波场数值计算精度,对时间域有限差分法与时间域伪谱法进行了对比研究。时间域有限差分法是一种目前流行的电磁场时域数值计算方法,已被广泛应用于求解与时间有关的偏导数方程。对于大规模数值计算,时间域有限差分法需要较多的内存空间。时间域伪谱法基于时间域有限差分法,该方法使用快速傅里叶度换来计算麦克斯韦方程中的空间导数。由于傅里叶变换的准确性,时间域伪谱法使计算精度提高,数值计算时所需的格子数大大减少,这极大地节省了计算机内存空间,适合于大规模正反演问题的数值计算。     

电法测井的三维有限元模拟

研究了不同测量方式(井-地,地-井,井-井)下点源场井中电法的三维有限元数值模拟。考虑到深度方向上大范围的网格剖分和井眼的影响及井-井测量等因素,采用放射状三棱柱单元的网格剖分方式,以提高网格质量,减少剖分单元数;给出了三棱柱单元的坐标变换公式,进行精确的单元积分,减少了单元积分时间;结合非结构化网格技术,实现了复杂模型的模拟;开发出相应的程序实现了复杂条件下(如考虑井眼影响、井井测量、倾斜井情形、地形起伏等)电法测井的三维有限元模拟,数值算例验证了方法的可靠性及计算效率,并对不同情形下的异常响应进行了分析,为进一步的反演工作奠定了基础。     

Heterogeneity preserving upscaling for heat transport in fractured geothermal reservoirs

In simulation of fluid injection in fractured geothermal reservoirs, the characteristics of the physical processes are severely affected by the local occurence of connected fractures. To resolve these structurally dominated processes, there is a need to develop discretization strategies that also limit computational effort. In this paper, we present an upscaling methodology for geothermal heat transport with fractures represented explicitly in the computational grid. The heat transport is modeled by an advection-conduction equation for the temperature, and solved on a highly irregular coarse grid that preserves the fracture heterogeneity. The upscaling is based on different strategies for the advective term and the conductive term. The coarse scale advective term is constructed from sums of fine scale fluxes, whereas the coarse scale conductive term is constructed based on numerically computed basis functions. The method naturally incorporates the coupling between solution variables in the matrix and in the fractures, respectively, via the discretization. In this way, explicit transfer terms that couple fracture and matrix solution variables are avoided. Numerical results show that the upscaling methodology performs well, in particular for large upscaling ratios, and that it is applicable also to highly complex fracture networks.     

生态地理建模中的多尺度问题

本文在分析生态地理建模内涵的基础上,讨论了生态地理建模中的尺度转换问题、跨尺度相互作用问题、空间尺度与时间尺度的关联问题和多尺度数据处理问题.由于生态地理问题的非线性、生态环境的异质性和随机事件,简单的线性尺度转换方法远不能满足生态地理建模的要求.为了从根本上解决生态地理建模中的时空尺度问题,除需要运用微分几何学和等级理论等经典方法外,还需要引入格点生成法和网格计算等现代理论和技术手段.     

Nearly perfectly matched layer boundary conditions for operator upscaling of the acoustic wave equation

Acoustic imaging and sensor modeling are processes that require repeated solution of the acoustic wave equation. Solution of the wave equation can be computationally expensive and memory intensive for large simulation domains. One scheme for speeding up solution of the wave equation is the operator-based upscaling method. The algorithm proceeds in two steps. First, the wave equation is solved for fine grid unknowns internal to coarse blocks assuming the coarse blocks do not need to communicate with neighboring blocks in parallel. Second, these fine grid solutions are used to form a new problem which is solved on the coarse grid. Accurate and efficient wave propagation schemes also must avoid artificial reflections off of the computational domain edges. One popular method for preventing artificial reflections is the nearly perfectly matched layer (NPML) method. In this paper, we discuss applying NPML to operator upscaling for the wave equation. We show that although we only apply NPML to the first step of this two step algorithm (directly affecting the fine grid unknowns only), we still see a significant reduction of reflections back into the domain. We describe three numerical experiments (one homogeneous medium experiment and two heterogeneous media examples) in which we validate that the solution of the wave equation exponentially decays in the NPML regions. Numerical experiments of acoustic wave propagation in two dimensions with a reasonable absorbing layer thickness resulted in a maximum pressure reflection of 3–8%. While the coarse grid acceleration is not explicitly damped in our algorithm, the tight coupling between the two steps of the algorithm results in only 0.1–1% of acceleration reflecting back into the computational domain.     

Adaptive POD model reduction for solute transport in heterogeneous porous media

We study the applicability of a model order reduction technique to the solution of transport of passive scalars in homogeneous and heterogeneous porous media. Transport dynamics are modeled through the advection-dispersion equation (ADE) and we employ Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) as a strategy to reduce the computational burden associated with the numerical solution of the ADE. Our application of POD relies on solving the governing ADE for selected times, termed snapshots. The latter are then employed to achieve the desired model order reduction. We introduce a new technique, termed Snapshot Splitting Technique (SST), which allows enriching the dimension of the POD subspace and damping the temporal increase of the modeling error. Coupling SST with a modeling strategy based on alternating over diverse time scales the solution of the full numerical transport model to its reduced counterpart allows extending the benefit of POD over a prolonged temporal window so that the salient features of the process can be captured at a reduced computational cost. The selection of the time scales across which the solution of the full and reduced model are alternated is linked to the Péclet number (P e), representing the interplay between advective and dispersive processes taking place in the system. Thus, the method is adaptive in space and time across the heterogenous structure of the domain through the combined use of POD and SST and by way of alternating the solution of the full and reduced models. We find that the width of the time scale within which the POD-based reduced model solution provides accurate results tends to increase with decreasing P e. This suggests that the effects of local-scale dispersive processes facilitate the POD method to capture the salient features of the system dynamics embedded in the selected snapshots. Since the dimension of the reduced model is much lower than that of the full numerical model, the methodology we propose enables one to accurately simulate transport at a markedly reduced computational cost.     

Finite-difference algorithm with local time-space grid refinement for simulation of waves

This paper presents a new approach to a local time-space grid refinement for a staggered-grid finite-difference simulation of waves. The approach is based on approximation of a wave equation at the interface where two grids are coupled. As no interpolation or projection techniques are used, the finite-difference scheme preserves second order of convergence. We have proved that this approach is low-reflecting, the artificial reflections are about 10^− 4 of an incident wave. We have also shown that if a successive refinement is applied, i.e. temporal and spatial steps are refined at different interfaces, this approach is stable.     

二阶声波方程频域PML边界条件及频域变网格步长并行计算

研究了二阶声波方程频域PML边界条件和频域变网格并行计算技术。PML边界是一种较为理想的吸收边界方法,多用在求解时域应力速度方程中,但对于频域声波正演,二阶位移方程更常用。从一阶声波方程PML吸收边界条件导出频域二阶位移方程PML边界条件,模拟算例得到的频率切片、时间切片和地震记录对比都说明该边界条件吸收效果很好。频域单炮正演不同频率间是独立的,据此低频部分采用大网格计算,高频采用小网格,实现变网格步长计算技术,这是较时间域正演的一个优势,在保证模拟质量的同时,减少计算量和内存消耗。