Mimetic finite difference approximation of flows in fractured porous media

Abstract

We present a possible framework for the numerical simulation of flow in fractured porous media that couples mimetic finite differences for the porous matrix with a finite volume scheme for the flow in the fractures. The resulting method is theoretically analyzed in the case of a single fracture. Moreover, several numerical experiments show the capability of the method to deal also with complicated networks of fractures. Thanks to the implementation of rather general coupling conditions, it encompasses both “conductive fractures”, i.e., fractures with high permeability and “sealed fractures”, i.e., fractures with low permeability which act as a flow barrier.