Abstract
In a classical paper Henry set up a conceptual model for simulating saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers. Up to now the problem has been taken up by software developers and modellers as a benchmark for codes simulating coupled flow and transport in porous media. The Henry test case has been treated using different numerical methods based on various formulations of differential equations. We compare several of these approaches using multiphysics software. We model the problem using Finite Elements, utilizing the primitive variables and the streamfunction approach, both with and without using the Oberbeck-Boussinesq assumption. We compare directly coupled solvers with segregated solver strategies. Changing finite element orders and mesh refinement, we find that models based on the streamfunction converge 2-4 times faster than runs based on primitive variables. Concerning the solution strategy, we find an advantage of Picard iterations compared to monolithic Newton iterations.
Highlights
The classical paper of Henry [1], published for the United States Geological Survey in 1964, based on a doctoral dissertation written at Columbia University in 1960 (‘Salt Intrusion intoCoastal Aquifers’)
Model runs are performed for different meshes and elements, using primitive variables and streamfunction formulation
A run with several adaptive grid refinements for the primitive variable approach and second order elements is used as the reference, to which all other models are compared
Summary
The classical paper of Henry [1], published for the United States Geological Survey in 1964, based on a doctoral dissertation written at Columbia University in 1960 The Henry testcase has become a classical benchmark for codes on saltwater intrusion but for software designed for modeling variable density and coupled flow and transport in porous media in general. It gives clues concerning general multiphysics modelling. Instead a mixing zone between fresh and saline waters is considered, which leads to a nonlinear system of two coupled differential equations Aside from this new phenomenological aspect the Henry problem can be used for checking numerical codes and testing various numerical approaches techniques and is of interest until today. Concerning the numerical procedure we quantify another alternative, comparing Picard iterations and Newton method for resolving the nonlinear system
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