A virtual element method for the two-phase flow of immiscible fluids in porous media

A primal C⁰-conforming virtual element discretization for the approximation of the bidimensional two-phase flow of immiscible fluids in porous media using general polygonal meshes is discussed. This work investigates the potentialities of the Virtual Element Method (VEM) in solving this specific problem of immiscible fluids in porous media involving a time-dependent coupled system of non-linear partial differential equations. The performance of the fully discrete scheme is thoroughly analysed testing it on general meshes considering both a regular problem and more realistic benchmark problems that are of interest for physical and engineering applications.

     

Simulation of the Steady-State Flow in Discrete Fracture Networks with Non-Conforming Meshes and Extended Finite Elements

In this paper a numerical method for the simulation of the steady-state fluid flow in discrete fracture networks is described. It is based on the use of non-conforming meshes, enrichment functions and an optimization procedure. The meshing process is performed on each fracture independently of the other fractures, i.e. without geometrical conformity at the intersections (traces). The slope discontinuities due to the flux exchange at the traces are then captured with the enrichment functions of the extended finite elements, and finally a functional is minimized by resorting to an optimization procedure. The method can be easily implemented for parallel computers being based on many small independent problems. In order to show the effectiveness of the method and the quality of the results, simulations of fluid flow in simple networks are illustrated.