arXiv subjects

Rainer Helmig

Publications and source records attributed to Rainer Helmig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Numerical solution of the unsteady Brinkman equations in the framework of $H$(div)-conforming finite element methods

We present projection-based mixed finite element methods for the solution of the unsteady Brinkman equations for incompressible single-phase flow with fixed in space porous solid inclusions. At each time step the method requires the solution of a predictor and a projection problem. The predictor problem, which uses a stress-velocity mixed formulation, accounts for the momentum balance, while the projection problem, which is based on a velocity-pressure mixed formulation, accounts for the incompressibility. The spatial discretization is $H$(div)-conforming and the velocity computed at the end of each time step is pointwise divergence-free. Unconditional stability of the fully-discrete scheme and first order in time accuracy are established. Due to the $H$(div)-conformity of the formulation, the methods are robust in both the Stokes and the Darcy regimes. In the specific code implementation, we discretize the computational domain using the Raviart--Thomas space $RT_1$ in two and three dimensions, applying a second-order accurate multipoint flux mixed finite element scheme with a quadrature rule that samples the flux degrees of freedom. In the predictor problem this allows for a local elimination of the viscous stress and results in element-based symmetric and positive definite systems for each velocity component with $\left(d+1\right)$ degrees of freedom per simplex (where $d$ is the dimension of the problem). In a similar way, we locally eliminate the corrected velocity in the projection problem and solve an element-based system for the pressure. Numerical experiments are presented to verify the convergence of the proposed scheme and illustrate its performance for several challenging applications, including one-domain modeling of coupled free fluid and porous media flows and heterogeneous porous media with strong discontinuity of the porosity and permeability values.

math.NA↗

arXiv2025

Local Thermal Non-Equilibrium Models in Porous Media: A Comparative Study of Conduction Effects

Instantaneous heat transfer between different phases is a common assumption for modeling heat transfer in porous media, known as Local Thermal Equilibrium (LTE). This assumption may not hold in certain technical and environmental applications, especially in systems with large temperature gradients, large differences in thermal properties, or high velocities. Local Thermal Non-Equilibrium (LTNE) models aim to describe heat transfer processes when the LTE assumption may fail. In this work, we compare three continuum-scale models from the pore to the representative elementary volume (REV) scale. Specifically, dual-network and REV-scale models are evaluated against a pore-resolved model, which we perceive as a reference in the absence of experimental results. Different effective models are used to obtain upscaled properties on the REV scale and to compare resulting temperature profiles. The systems investigated are fully saturated, consisting of one fluid and one solid phase. This study focuses on purely conductive systems without significant differences in thermal properties. Results show that LTE holds then for low interfacial resistances. However, for large interfacial resistances, solid and fluid temperatures differ. The REV-scale model with effective parameters obtained by homogenization leads to similar results as the pore-resolved model, whereas the dual-network model shows greater deviation due to its fixed spatial resolution. Among the evaluated effective parameter formulations for the REV-scale model, only the homogenization-based approach captures the LTNE behavior, as it incorporates the interfacial heat transfer coefficient. Convection is relevant for most practical applications, and its impact will be addressed in a follow-up article.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2025

Improvement of fully-implicit two-phase pore-network models by employing generalized flux functions with additional throat variables

In fully-implicit two-phase pore-network models, developing a well-converged scheme remains a major challenge, primarily due to the discontinuities in the phase conductivities. This paper addresses these numerical issues by proposing a generalized flux function that establishes a continuous flux expression for two-phase flows by introducing an additional throat variable $\Theta$. Two approaches for expressing this additional throat variable are introduced: the first applies regularization strategies, while the second constructs an additional residual constraint equation. It is shown that this approach significantly improves accuracy and ensures the temporal convergence, as demonstrated through various numerical examples.

math.NA↗

arXiv2025

Two-phase pore-network model for evaporation-driven salt precipitation -- representation and analysis of pore-scale processes

Evaporation-driven salt precipitation occurs in different contexts and leads to challenges in case of e.g. soil salinization or stress-introducing precipitation in building material. During evaporation, brine in porous media gets concentrated due to the loss of water until the solubility limit is reached and salt precipitates. Different models on the REV-scale are available, which describe the effective behavior of the system. But several studies indicate that the controlling processes of evaporation-driven salt precipitation act on the pore scale. Thus, pore-scale models are necessary for a detailed understanding. In this paper, we present a dynamic, two-phase, non-isothermal pore-network model for evaporation-driven salt precipitation. Salt precipitation is modeled with a kinetic reaction and the resulting pore-space alteration is considered. Further, the model includes influence of the salt concentration on the fluid properties and liquid corner films. The capabilities of the model are demonstrated in several numerical evaporation experiments. The model is able to represent the effects of the decrease of pore space due to precipitation on the flow, phase displacement and salt transport. Further, the influence of the location of the brine-air interface and its dependency on the presence of liquid corner flow is described. Additionally, pore-scale heterogeneities and their effects like capillary pumping can be modeled. All these pore-scale effects have an influence on the salt precipitation process and the global behavior of the porous system. The presented model provides a general tool for further investigations of salt precipitation on the pore scale and transfer to the REV scale.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2024

Mixed finite element projection methods for the unsteady Stokes equations

We develop $H$(div)-conforming mixed finite element methods for the unsteady Stokes equations modeling single-phase incompressible fluid flow. A projection method in the framework of the incremental pressure correction methodology is applied, where a predictor and a corrector problems are sequentially solved, accounting for the viscous effects and incompressibility, respectively. The predictor problem is based on a stress-velocity mixed formulation, while the corrector projection problem uses a velocity-pressure mixed formulation. The scheme results in pointwise divergence-free velocity computed at the end of each time step. We establish unconditional stability and first order in time accuracy. In the implementation we focus on generally unstructured triangular grids. We employ a second order multipoint flux mixed finite element method based on the next-to-the-lowest order Raviart-Thomas space $RT_1$ and a suitable quadrature rule. In the predictor problem this approach allows for a local stress elimination, resulting in element-based systems for each velocity component with three degrees of freedom per element. Similarly, in the corrector problem, the velocity is locally eliminated and an element-based system for the pressure is solved. At the end of each time step we obtain a second order accurate $H$(div)-conforming piecewise linear velocity, which is pointwise divergence free. We present a series of numerical tests to illustrate the performance of the method.

math.NA↗

arXiv2024

A fully-implicit solving approach to an adaptive multi-scale model -- coupling a vertical-equilibrium and full-dimensional model for compressible, multi-phase flow in porous media

Vertical equilibrium models have proven to be well suited for simulating fluid flow in subsurface porous media such as saline aquifers with caprocks. However, in most cases the dimensionally reduced model lacks the accuracy to capture the dynamics of a system. While conventional full-dimensional models have the ability to represent dynamics, they come at the cost of high computational effort. We aim to combine the efficiency of the vertical equilibrium model and the accuracy of the full-dimensional model by coupling the two models adaptively in a unified framework and solving the emerging system of equations in a monolithic, fully-implicit approach. The model domains are coupled via mass-conserving fluxes while the model adaptivity is ruled by adaption criteria. Overall, the adaptive model shows an excellent behaviour both in terms of accuracy as well as efficiency, especially for elongated geometries of storage systems with large aspect ratios.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2024

A mortar method for the coupled Stokes-Darcy problem using the MAC scheme for Stokes and mixed finite elements for Darcy

A discretization method with non-matching grids is proposed for the coupled Stokes-Darcy problem that uses a mortar variable at the interface to couple the marker and cell (MAC) method in the Stokes domain with the Raviart-Thomas mixed finite element pair in the Darcy domain. Due to this choice, the method conserves linear momentum and mass locally in the Stokes domain and exhibits local mass conservation in the Darcy domain. The MAC scheme is reformulated as a mixed finite element method on a staggered grid, which allows for the proposed scheme to be analyzed as a mortar mixed finite element method. We show that the discrete system is well-posed and derive a priori error estimates that indicate first order convergence in all variables. The system can be reduced to an interface problem concerning only the mortar variables, leading to a non-overlapping domain decomposition method. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the theoretical results and the applicability of the method.

math.NA↗

arXiv2023

Data-Driven Closure Parametrizations with Metrics: Dispersive Transport

This work presents a data-driven framework for multi-scale parametrization of velocity-dependent dispersive transport in porous media. Pore-scale flow and transport simulations are conducted on periodic pore geometries, and volume-averaging is used to isolate dispersive transport, producing parameters for the dispersive closure term at the Representative Elementary Volume (REV) scale. After validation on unit cells with symmetric and asymmetric geometries, a convolutional neural network (CNN) is trained to predict dispersivity directly from pore-geometry images. Descriptive metrics are also introduced to better understand the parameter space and are used to build a neural network that predicts dispersivity based solely on these metrics. While the models predict longitudinal dispersivity well, transversal dispersivity remains difficult to capture, likely requiring more advanced models to fully describe pore-scale transversal dynamics.

math.NA↗

arXiv2023

A new numerical mesoscopic scale one-domain approach solver for free fluid/porous medium interaction

A new numerical continuum \textit{one-domain} approach (ODA) solver is presented for the simulation of the transfer processes between a free fluid and a porous medium. The solver is developed in the \textit{mesoscopic} scale framework, where a continuous variation of the physical parameters of the porous medium (e.g., porosity and permeability) is assumed. The Navier-Stokes-Brinkman equations are solved along with the continuity equation, under the hypothesis of incompressible fluid. The porous medium is assumed to be fully saturated and can potentially be anisotropic. The domain is discretized with unstructured meshes allowing local refinements. A fractional time step procedure is applied, where one predictor and two corrector steps are solved within each time iteration. The predictor step is solved in the framework of a marching in space and time procedure, with some important numerical advantages. The two corrector steps require the solution of large linear systems, whose matrices are sparse, symmetric and positive definite, with $\mathcal{M}$-matrix property over Delaunay-meshes. A fast and efficient solution is obtained using a preconditioned conjugate gradient method. The discretization adopted for the two corrector steps can be regarded as a Two-Point-Flux-Approximation (TPFA) scheme, which, unlike the standard TPFA schemes, does not require the grid mesh to be $\mathbf{K}$-orthogonal, (with $\mathbf{K}$ the anisotropy tensor). As demonstrated with the provided test cases, the proposed scheme correctly retains the anisotropy effects within the porous medium. Furthermore, it overcomes the restrictions of existing mesoscopic scale one-domain approachs proposed in the literature.

math.NA↗

arXiv2023

A DuMux Framework for Data-Driven Multi-Scale Parametrizations

Presented in this work is a framework for the data-driven determination of multi-scale porous media parametrizations. Simulations of flow and transport in a porous medium at the REV scale, although efficient, require well defined parameters that represent pore-scale phenomena to maintain their accuracy. Determining the optimal parameters for this often require expensive pore-scale calculations. This work outlines a series of four steps where these parameters can be calculated from pore scale data, their solutions generalized with a convolutional neural network, and their content better understood with descriptive pore metrics.

math.NA↗

arXiv2022

Flux-mortar mixed finite element methods with multipoint flux approximation

The flux-mortar mixed finite element method was recently developed for a general class of domain decomposition saddle point problems on non-matching grids. In this work we develop the method for Darcy flow using the multipoint flux approximation as the subdomain discretization. The subdomain problems involve solving positive definite cell-centered pressure systems. The normal flux on the subdomain interfaces is the mortar coupling variable, which plays the role of a Lagrange multiplier to impose weakly continuity of pressure. We present well-posedness and error analysis based on reformulating the method as a mixed finite element method with a quadrature rule. We develop a non-overlapping domain decomposition algorithm for the solution of the resulting algebraic system that reduces it to an interface problem for the flux-mortar, as well as an efficient interface preconditioner. A series of numerical experiments is presented illustrating the performance of the method on general grids, including applications to flow in complex porous media.

math.NA↗

arXiv2022

Modeling of two phase flow in a hydrophobic porous medium interacting with a hydrophilic structure

Fluid flow through layered materials with different wetting behavior is observed in a wide range of applications in biological, environmental and technical systems. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the occuring transport mechanisms of the fluids at the interface between the layered constituents. Of special interest is the water transport in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEM FC). Here, it is necessary to understand the transport mechanisms of water throughout the cell constituents especially on the cathode side, where the excess water has to be removed. This is crucial to choose optimal operating conditions and improve the overall cell performance. Pore-scale modeling of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) and gas distributor has been established as a favorable technique to investigate the ongoing processes. Investigating the interface between the hydrophobic porous GDL and the hydrophilic gas distributor, a particular challenge is the combination and interaction of the different material structures and wetting properties at the interface and its influence on the flow. In this paper, a modeling approach is presented which captures the influence of a hydrophilic domain on the flow in a hydrophobic porous domain at the interface between the two domains. A pore-network model is used as the basis of the developed concept which is extended to allow the modeling of mixed-wet interactions at the interface. The functionality of the model is demonstrated using basic example configurations with one and several interface pores and it is applied to a realistic GDL representation in contact with a channel-land structured gas distributor.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2022

Two-phase flow dynamics at the interface between GDL and gas distributor channel using a pore-network model

For improved operating conditions of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, a sophisticated water management is crucial. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the transport mechanisms of water throughout the cell constituents especially on the cathode side, where the excess water has to be removed. Pore-scale modeling of diffusion layers and gas distributor has been established as a favorable technique to investigate the ongoing processes. Investigating the interface between the cathode layers, a particular challenge is the combination and interaction of the multi-phase flow in the porous material of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) with the free flow in the gas distributor channels. The formation, growth and detachment of water droplets on the hydrophobic, porous surface of the GDL have a major influence on the mass, momentum and energy exchange between the layers. A dynamic pore-network model is used to describe the flow through the porous GDL on the pore-scale. To capture the droplet occurrence and its influence on the flow, this dynamic two-phase pore-network model is extended to capture droplet formation and growth at the surface of the GDL as well as droplet detachment due to the gas flow in the gas distributor channels. In this article, the developed model is applied to single- and multi-tube systems to investigate the general drop behavior. These rather simple test-cases are compared to experimental and numerical data available in the literature. Finally, the model is applied to a GDL unit cell to analyse the interaction between two-phase flow through the GDL and drop formation at the interface between GDL and gas distributor channel.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2021

A phase-field approach to model evaporation from porous media: Modeling and upscaling

We develop a phase-field model for evaporation from a porous medium by explicitly considering a vapor component together with the liquid and gas phases in the system. The phase-field model consists of the conservation of mass (for phases and vapor component), momentum, and energy. In addition, the evolution of the phase field is described by the Allen-Cahn equation. In the limit of vanishing interface width, matched asymptotic expansions reveal that the phase-field model reduces to the sharp-interface model with all the relevant transmission conditions on the moving interface. An energy estimate is derived, which suggests that for the diffusion-dominated regime, energy always decreases with time. However, this is not trivial in the case of other regimes. Through numerical examples, we analyze the efficiency of the developed phase-field formulation in modeling the evaporation process. We observe that our formulation is able to capture shrinking liquid droplet, in other words evaporation. Further, the phase-field model is upscaled to the Darcy scale using periodic homogenization for the diffusion-dominated regime. The effective parameters at the Darcy scale are connected to the pore scale through corresponding cell problems.

math.AP↗

arXiv2021

Coupling staggered-grid and vertex-centered finite-volume methods for coupled porous-medium free-flow problems

In this work, a new discretization approach for coupled free and porous-medium flows is introduced, which uses a finite volume staggered-grid method for the discretization of the Navier-Stokes equations in the free-flow subdomain, while a vertex-centered finite volume method is used in the porous-medium flow domain. The latter allows for the use of unstructured grids in the porous-medium subdomain, and the presented method is capable of handling non-matching grids at the interface. In addition, the accurate evaluation of coupling terms and of additional nonlinear velocity-dependent terms in the porous medium is ensured by the use of basis functions and by having degrees of freedom naturally located at the interface. The available advantages of this coupling method are investigated in a series of tests: a convergence test for various grid types, an evaluation of the implementation of coupling conditions, and an example using the velocity dependent Forchheimer term in the porous-medium subdomain.

math.NA↗

arXiv2021

Evaporation-driven density instabilities in saturated porous media

Soil salinization is a major cause of soil degradation and hampers plant growth. For soils saturated with saline water, the evaporation of water induces accumulation of salt near the top of the soil. The remaining liquid gets an increasingly larger density due to the accumulation of salt, giving a gravitationally unstable situation, where instabilities in the form of fingers can form. These fingers can hence lead to a net downwards transport of salt. We here investigate the appearance of these fingers through a linear stability analysis and through numerical simulations. The linear stability analysis gives criteria for onset of instabilities for a large range of parameters. Simulations using a set of parameters give information also about the development of the fingers after onset. With this knowledge we can predict whether and when the instabilities occur, and their effect on the salt concentration development near the top boundary.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2020

Comparison of cell- and vertex-centered finite-volume schemes for flow in fractured porous media

Flow in fractured porous media is of high relevance in a variety of geotechnical applications, given the fact that they ubiquitously occur in nature and that they can have a substantial impact on the hydraulic properties of rock. As a response to this, an active field of research has developed over the past decades, focussing on the development of mathematical models and numerical methods to describe and simulate the flow processes in fractured rock. In this work, we present a comparison of different finite volume-based numerical schemes for the simulation of flow in fractured porous media by means of numerical experiments. Two novel vertex-centered approaches are presented and compared to well-established numerical schemes in terms of convergence behaviour and their performance on benchmark studies taken from the literature. The new schemes show to produce results that are in good agreement with those of established methods while being computationally less expensive on unstructured simplex grids.

math.NA↗

arXiv2020

Information transfer between turbulent boundary layer and porous media

The interaction between the flow above and below a permeable wall is a central topic in the study of porous media. While previous investigations have provided compelling evidence of the strong coupling between the two regions, few studies have quantitatively measured the directionality, i.e., causal-and-effect relations, of this interaction. To shed light on the problem, we use transfer entropy as a marker to evaluate the causal interaction between the free turbulent flow and the porous media using interface-resolved direct numerical simulation. Our results show that the porosity of the porous medium has a profound impact on the intensity, time scale and spatial extent of surface-subsurface interactions. For values of porosity equal to 0.5, top-down and bottom-up interactions strongly are asymmetric, the former being mostly influenced by small near-wall eddies. As the porosity increases, both top-down and bottom-up interactions are dominated by shear-flow instabilities.

physics.flu-dyn↗