Modeling non‐isothermal two‐phase fluid flow with phase change in deformable fractured porous media using extended finite element method

Abstract

AbstractIn this article, a computational model is presented for the analysis of coupled thermo‐hydro‐mechanical process with phase change (evaporation/condensation) in fractured porous media in order to model multiphase fluid flows, heat transfer, and discontinuous deformation by employing the extended finite element method. The ideal gas law and Dalton's law are employed to consider vapor and dry air as miscible gases. To take into account the phase change, latent heat and specific vapor enthalpy are incorporated into the physical model. The set of governing equations consists of linear momentum for the solid‐phase, energy balance equation and mass conservation equations of water species (liquid and vapor) and dry air, which are derived within the framework of the generalized Biot's theory. The weak forms are presented in terms of the displacement, water pressure, capillary pressure, and temperature as the primary variables. The spatial and temporal discretizations are carried out applying the extended finite element method and the generalized Newmark scheme, respectively, resulting in the final system of fully coupled nonlinear equations. Finally, several numerical examples are solved to demonstrate not only the robustness of the proposed computational model but also the effect of the crack orientation, intrinsic permeability, and elastic modulus on the fluid flow patterns, relative humidity, and temperature distribution. Moreover, an edge‐crack propagation is investigated under mode I fracture due to drying conditions.