Numerical experiments for 3-dimensional flow analysis in a fractured rock with porous matrix

Groundwater flow in a 3-D domain with fracture planes is numerically investigated using the finite element method. A flexible mesh generation method for discretization is proposed in this paper. The method, based on Delaunay triangulation, divides the whole domain into subdomains separated by fracture planes. It then triangulates each subdomain independently into tetrahedra which are further subdivided into hexahedra. By putting together all of the meshes of the subdomain, a finite element mesh of the whole domain is obtained. The appropriateness of the mesh generation method is topologically proved. Several applications of the proposed method are given, and the numerical solutions are in good agreement with those obtained with a structured grid. It is concluded that the proposed mesh generation method can replace the structured grid.