Flow in multi-scale fracture networks: numerical optimization by use of a Mortar-like method.

International audienceWe study flow in fractured media. We propose to decouple flow problem between fractures and the mesh generation by using a Mortar-like method at the intersections between fractures. Fractures can be meshed independently and the Mortar-like method solves flow on non-matching meshes. From a technical point of view, the method offers a tractable solution for the geometrical configuration leading to flat meshes. From the more general point of view of permeability upscaling, the method leads to several optimization possibilities for simulating flow on several orders of magnitude. We describe the details of the method, its performances, optimization possibilities and applications