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Section: New Results
Mathematical modeling of multi-physics involving wave equations
A study of the numerical robustness of single-layer method with Fourier basis for multiple obstacle scattering in homogeneous media
Participants : Hélène Barucq, Juliette Chabassier, Ha Pham, Sébastien Tordeux.
We investigate efficient methods to solve direct and inverse problems for the propagation of acoustic wave in strongly inhomogeneous media in low-frequency regime. We start our investigation with inhomogeneities created by compactly-supported and non-overlapping obstacles. With a large number of small obstacles, optimized softwares based on Finite Element Method (FEM) lose their robustness. As an alternative, we work with an integral equation method, which uses single-layer potentials and truncation of Fourier series to describe the scattered field. We limit our numerical experiments to disc-shaped obstacles. We first compare our method with Montjoie (a FEM-based software); secondly, we investigate the efficiency of different solver types (direct and iterative) in solving the dense linear system generated by the method. We observe that the optimal choice depends on the distance between obstacles, their size and number, and applications.
Derivation and validation of impedance transmission conditions for the electric potential across a highly conductive casing
Participants : Hélène Barucq, Aralar Erdozain, David Pardo, Victor Péron.
Borehole resistivity measurements are a common procedure when trying to obtain a better characterization of the Earth's subsurface. The possible risk of having borehole collapses makes the employment of a casing very suitable for this type of scenarios. Such casing protects the borehole but it also highly complicates the resistivity measurements due to the thinness of the casing and the large contrasts between the conductivities of the casing and the rock formations.
This work is motivated by realistic configurations where the resistivity of the casing is proportional to the cube of the thickness of the casing. In this framework, our aim is to derive Impedance Transmission Conditions (ITCs) for the electromagnetic field across such a casing. As a first approach we derive ITCs for the electric potential. We consider a transmission problem for the static case of the electric potential, set in an axi-symmetric borehole shaped domain. This domain is composed of three different subdomains, the interior part of the borehole, the rock formations and the metallic casing.
In this framework, we address the issue of ITCs using two different approaches. The first one consists in deriving ITCs across the casing itself, whereas the second approach tackles the problem by deriving ITCs on an artificial interface located in the middle of the casing. We derive different models for the two considered approaches and we numerically assess them with a finite element method implementation. Then we perform a comparison on these models by showing the advantages and drawbacks of each model. Finally, we show an application to a borehole through-casing resistivity measurement scenario. This work delivers stability results and error estimates, leading to convergence of each approximate model. All the details regarding this work can be found in [43].and [10]. In addition it has been presented to the WONAPDE Conference [29].
Semi-analytical solutions for asymptotic models for the electric potential across a highly conductive casing
Participants : Hélène Barucq, Aralar Erdozain, Ignacio Muga, Victor Péron.
This work is performed in the framework of borehole through-casing resistivity measurements. A transmission problem for the electric potential is considered, where one part of the domain is a high-conductive casing. Numerical instabilities are created during the numerical simulations when such a casing is present in the configuration. Therefore, three different asymptotic models derived in [43] are considered, which are composed of impedance conditions specially designed to avoid the casing. These models correspond to approximations of orders one, two and four.
In this work, we employ analytical methods for the aforementioned asymptotic models, which provide a consistent solution to test and verify the numerical solutions (Finite Element Method). In addition, these methods are computationally cheaper than the purely numerical methods. The standard method we follow consists in employing cylindrical coordinates and assuming material homogeneity in the vertical and angular variables. The source term is represented as a Dirac distribution. Under these conditions, we represent the solution to our problem as an inverse Fourier integral in the vertical variable, and a Fourier series in the angular variable.
Numerical tests are carried out to compare with Finite Element solutions. Several difficulties have to be taken into account during the implementation of the semi-analytical solutions, like the treatment of the Dirac distribution and the presence of singularities when the Fourier variable tends to zero. These difficulties are also addressed in this work which is detailed in [10].
Numerical investigation of instabilities of Perfectly Matched Layers coupled with DG-schemes in elastodynamic
Participants : Hélène Barucq, Lionel Boillot, Henri Calandra, Julien Diaz, Simon Ettouati.
We observed long-term numerical instabilities when DG-schemes are coupled with PML in elastodynamic, even with isotropic media. To investigate the causes of this instabilities, we have led a series of numerical experiments with elasticus 5.1. The conclusion was that the instabilities only appear in truly elastodynamic media (i.e. when the velocities of S waves is positive) and that different factors impact the stability : the heterogeneities of the domain, the choice of the fluxes, the boundary conditions, the use of unstructured meshes... In the best scenario, using a cartesian grid with periodic boundary conditions for an homogeneous medium and centered fluxes, we did not observe instabilities. However, changing only one element of the configuration made the instabilities appear. Our conclusion is that we need a very particular flux in the PML that should be able to handle the heterogeneities of the domain and the structure of the mesh. This flux should also be adapted to discretize the boundary condition. We are now working on the design of this flux.
Elasto-acoustic coupling
Participants : Hélène Barucq, Lionel Boillot, Henri Calandra, Julien Diaz, Simon Ettouati.
Last year, we developed a Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the elastoacoustic coupling in time domain. The proposed solution methodology in general and can be applied to any kind of fluxes. The method had been implemented in Elasticus 5.1 and we have transfered it into the Total plateform TMBM-DG 5.4.
In [23], we have considered elastoacoustic coupling with curved interfaces and we have proposed a solution methodology based on Finite Element techniques, which allows for a flexible coupling between the fluid and the solid domain by using non-conforming meshes and curved elements. Differently from other non-conforming approaches proposed so far, our technique is relatively simpler and requires only a geometrical adjustment at the coupling interface at a preprocessing stage, so that no extra computations are necessary during the time evolution of the simulation. This work, has been achieved in collaboration with Angel Rodriguez Rozas, former post-doc of the team.
Atmospheric radiation boundary conditions for helioseismology
Participants : Hélène Barucq, Juliette Chabassier, Marc Duruflé.
Modeling acoustic wave propagation inside a celestial body (as the Sun) prompts the question of imposing an adequate boundary condition. Classical atmosphere models suppose an exponential decay of the medium density and a constant wave celerity outside a given radius. This work proposes several radiation boundary conditions that mimic the presence of such an atmosphere and assesses their behavior numerically in radial and axisymmetric configurations.
Hybrid discontinuous finite element approximation for the elasto-acoustics.
Participants : Hélène Barucq, Henri Calandra, Julien Diaz, Elvira Shishenina.
Discontinuous finite element methods proved their accuracy and flexibility, but they are still criticized for the number of degrees of freedom which they use: it is much higher than the ones of the conventional methods based on continuous approximations.
Thus hybrid methods have been developed and their integration into the DIP is under way, both in the acoustic and elastic domains.
The global purpose of this work is to develop a new approach for solving wave equation in discontinuous function spaces. This will provide all propagators already developed in the CARBON platform. Possible directions in this research are for example the development of a Trefftz type approximation for elasto-acoustics, coupling with VEM, HDG.
Our current work is concentrated on using Trefftz method. The main idea of the method is that chosen basis functions of Trefftz approximation space are discrete local solutions of the initial equations to be solved.
The possible advantages of Trefftz type approximations compared to the standard ones are: 1) better orders of convergence; 2) flexibility in the choice of basis functions; 3) low dispersion; 4) incorporation of wave propagation directions in the discrete space; 5) adaptivity and local space-time mesh refinement.
The particularity of Trefftz methods is that in case of applying to time-dependent problems they require a space-time mesh.
We studied theory of application of the method to the coupled acoustic system, and implemented numerically Trefftz method to solve the first-order 1D acoustic wave propagation system. The obtained results were presented during annual workshop in Houston organized by Depth Imaging Partnership between Inria and Total.