Sobhan Hatami, Stuart Duncan Christopher Walsh

In this paper, we consider two Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) methods to simulate flow through fractures using a novel multiphase model.
The approach represents the fluid using a two-dimensional parallel-plate model that employs techniques adapted from lattice-Boltzmann simulations to track the fluid interface.

Here, we discuss different mesh refinement strategies for the model and compare their performance to that of a uniform grid.
Results from the simulations are demonstrated showing excellent agreement between the model and analytical solutions for both unrefined and refined meshes.
We also present results from the study that illustrate the behavior of the AMR front-tracking method.
The AMR model is able to accurately track the interfacial properties in cases where uniform fine meshes would significantly increase the simulation cost.
The ability of the model to dynamically refine the domain is demonstrated by presenting the results from an example with evolving interfaces.