Title
The edge-based face element method for 3D-stream function and flux calculations in porous media flow
Author
Zijl, W.
Nawalany, M.
Nederlands Instituut voor Toegepaste Geowetenschappen TNO
Publication year
2004
Abstract
We present a velocity-oriented discrete analog of the partial differential equations governing porous media flow: the edge-based face element method. Conventional finite element techniques calculate pressures in the nodes of the grid. However, such methods do not satisfy the requirement of flux continuity at the faces. In contrast, the edge-based method calculates vector potentials along the edges, leading to continuity of fluxes. The method is algebraically equivalent with the popular block-centered finite difference method and with the mixed-hybrid finite element method, but is algorithmically different and has the same robustness as the more conventional node-based velocity-oriented method. The numerical examples are computed analytically and may, therefore, be considered as an 'heuristic proof' of the theory and its practical applicability for reservoir engineering and geohydrology. © 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
Subject
Geosciences
3D-stream function
Discrete analogs
Edge-based vector potentials
Face elements
Velocity-oriented approach
Computational methods
Finite element method
Heuristic methods
Hydrogeology
Partial differential equations
Porous materials
Robustness (control systems)
Vectors
Edge-based face element method
Flux continuity
Stream flow
finite difference technique
flow modeling
porous medium
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ab24100a-3f02-4799-b79c-638153a87b0c
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1023/b:tipm.0000013258.79763.a2
TNO identifier
237822
ISSN
0169-3913
Source
Transport in Porous Media, 55 (3), 361-382
Document type
article