A finite volume method for a coupled fracture model with matching and nonmatching grids (Q2273033)

In this paper a scheme based on the finite volume method is proposed for fluid flow in porous media with a fracture. The model couples the two-dimensional equations for flow velocity and pressure in two rectangular domains surrounding the fracture with one-dimensional equations in the fracture (segment line). The pressure is approximated as a piecewise constant function, whereas the velocity is discretized using the lowest order Raviart-Thomas elements in the porous media and is assumed to be piecewise constants at the fracture. Optimal order error estimates are proved on nonuniform triangular meshes for both the pressure and velocity. The 4-point finite volume method is extended to nonmatching grids between the fracture and the matrix without loss of any accuracy. Numerical experiments on matching and nonmatching meshes are shown and they confirm the presented theoretical analysis.