Modelling of highly-heterogeneous media using a flux-vector-based Green element method (original) (raw)

One of the modern techniques for solving nonlinear problems encountered in flow in porous media is the Green element method (GEM). It combines the high accuracy of the boundary element method with the efficiency and versatility of the finite element method. The high accuracy of the GEM comes from the direct representation of the normal fluxes as unknowns. However, in the classical GEM procedure the difficulties imposed by a large number of normal fluxes at each internal node are typically overcome by approximating them in terms of the primary variable, and this can lead to a diminution of the overall accuracy, particularly in applications to heterogeneous media.