Multiscale simulations for multi-continuum Richards equations (Q2033086)

In this paper, a multi-continuum model for unsaturated flow is studied, which arises from the coupled system of nonlinear Richards equations, in complex multiscale fractured porous media. The dual-continuum background consists of a system of small scale highly connected fractures as the first continuum and a matrix as the second continuum. The simulation of nonlinear coupled Richards equations in such a heterogeneous multicontinuum media is challenging, because of the nonlinearity, different properties of continua, high contrast, multiple scales, and mass transfer among continua and a variety of scales in many forms. The authors present detailed results on homogenization of the two-scale dual-continuum system of nonlinear Richards equations. To tackle the nonlinearity of the homogenized coupled Richards equations, after discretization in time, linearization with Picard iteration is applied. To overcome the difficulties from multiple scales as well as high contrast, fractures, heterogeneity, and to reduce the computational cost, the multiscale finite element method (GMsFEM) is applied combining with a multicontinuum approach, to upscale the homogenized system to a macroscopic (coarse-grid) level. The numerical results show that the GMsFEM can incorporate with the dual-continuum approach to obtain accurate solutions using only a few basis functions and that the GMsFEM is robust respecting high-contrast coefficients. The global convergence of this Picard linearization is also proved.