3D-2D Stokes-Darcy coupling for the modelling of seepage with an application to fluid-structure interaction with contact

TL;DR

This paper introduces a mixed-dimensional Stokes-Darcy coupling model to simulate flow in fracture networks with reservoirs and applies it to fluid-structure interaction with contact, capturing seepage and boundary flow effects.

Contribution

It presents a novel coupled model combining Stokes and Darcy flows across different dimensions, enabling realistic simulation of seepage and contact phenomena.

Findings

Numerical examples demonstrate the model's capability to simulate flow and contact.

The porous layer effectively models boundary flow due to surface roughness.

The approach allows for mechanically consistent contact and release in fluid-structure interactions.

Abstract

In this note we introduce a mixed dimensional Stokes-Darcy coupling where a $d$ dimensional Stokes' flow is coupled to a Darcy model on the $d-1$ dimensional boundary of the domain. The porous layer introduces tangential creeping flow along the boundary and allows for the modelling of boundary flow due to surface roughness. This leads to a new model of flow in fracture networks with reservoirs in an impenetrable bulk matrix. Exploiting this modelling capability, we then formulate a fluid-structure interaction method with contact, where the porous layer allows for mechanically consistent contact and release. Physical seepage in the contact zone due to rough surfaces is modelled by the porous layer. Some numerical examples are reported, both on the Stokes'-Darcy coupling alone and on the fluid-structure interaction with contact in the porous boundary layer.