Multiscale simulations for multi-continuum Richards equations

coupled system of nonlinear Richards equations generalized multiscale finite element method heterogeneous fractured porous media hierarchical finite element unsaturated multi-continuum flow problem upscaling

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

PDEs in connection with fluid mechanics (35Q35) Fractional partial differential equations (35R11) Finite element, Rayleigh-Ritz and Galerkin methods for boundary value problems involving PDEs (65N30) Numerical methods for partial differential equations, boundary value problems (65N99) Flows in porous media; filtration; seepage (76S05)

Abstract: In this paper, we study a multiscale method for simulating a dual-continuum unsaturated flow problem within complex heterogeneous fractured porous media. Mathematically, each of the dual continua is modeled by a multiscale Richards equation (for pressure head), and these equations are coupled to one another by transfer terms. On its own, Richards equation is already a nonlinear partial differential equation, and it is exceedingly difficult to solve numerically due to the extra nonlinear dependencies involving the soil water. To deal with multiple scales, our strategy is that starting from a microscopic scale, we upscale the coupled system of dual-continuum Richards equations via homogenization by the two-scale asymptotic expansion, to obtain a homogenized system, at an intermediate scale (level). Based on a hierarchical approach, the homogenization's effective coefficients are computed through solving the arising cell problems. To tackle the nonlinearity, after time discretization, we use Picard iteration procedure for linearization of the homogenized Richards equations. At each Picard iteration, some degree of multiscale still remains from the intermediate level, so we utilize the generalized multiscale finite element method (GMsFEM) combining with a multi-continuum approach, to upscale the homogenized system to a macroscopic (coarse-grid) level. This scheme involves building uncoupled and coupled multiscale basis functions, which are used not only to construct coarse-grid solution approximation with high accuracy but also (with the coupled multiscale basis) to capture the interactions among continua. These prospects and convergence are demonstrated by several numerical results for the proposed method.

Review text

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.

Recommendations

Cites work

Cited in

(16)

Describes a project that uses

Uses Software

This page was built for publication: Multiscale simulations for multi-continuum Richards equations

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q2033086)