Thin Barrier (Multiphysics Coupling)
The Multiphase Flow in Porous Media () interface contains an optional Thin Barrier multiphysics coupling feature on edges (in 2D) or surfaces (in 3D). The Thin Barrier coupling node can be used to avoid meshing interior permeable structures that are less permeable than the adjacent porous domains. It links bidirectionally the Phase Transport in Porous Media and Darcy’s Law interfaces.
Settings
The Label is the default multiphysics coupling feature name.
The default Name (for the first Thin Barrier multiphysics coupling feature in the model) is tbls1.
Boundary Selection
When nodes are added from the context menu, you can select Manual (the default) from the Selection list to choose specific boundaries, or select All boundaries as needed.
Coupled Interfaces
This section controls which individual interfaces are coupled by the current coupling feature. If a physics interface is deleted and then added to the model again, then in order to reestablish the coupling, you need to choose the correct physics interface again from the Phase transport or Flow in porous media lists
Shell Properties
The Thin Barrier multiphysics coupling feature is designed to be only applicable for a Single Layer Material. Select the Single Layer Material to be used for the thin barrier from the Layer list. The Thickness of the thin barrier is set in the Layer Definition section of the Shell Property Group window of the Single Layer Material. Also use this section to set the number of Mesh elements that are used in the Extra Dimension to solve the equations through the thickness of the thin barrier layer.
Model Input
The material properties of the different phases, such as density and viscosity, can be defined through user inputs, variables, or by selecting a boundary material. For the latter option, additional inputs, for example temperature or pressure, may be required to define these properties. These model inputs appear in this section.
Matrix properties
Select the material to use as porous matrix inside the thin barrier. Select Boundary material (the default) from the Porous material list to use the material defined for the thin barrier boundary. Select another material to use that material’s properties.
The default Porosity εp (a dimensionless number between 0 and 1) uses the value From material, defined by the Porous material selected. For User defined the default is 0.5.
The default Permeability κ (SI unit: m2) uses the value From material, as defined by the Porous material selected. For User defined the default is 1e-9  m2.
Capillary pressure
Select a Capillary pressure modelUser defined (the default), van Genuchten, Brooks and Corey, or Capillary diffusion. The van Genuchten and Brooks and Corey options are only available when there are not more than two phases present in the model.
For User defined, enter an expression for the Capillary pressure pc (SI unit: Pa) for the phases that are not computed from the volume constraint. The pressure of the corresponding phase is equal to the pressure of the phase computed from the volume constraint plus the capillary pressure supplied for this phase.
For van Genuchten, enter an Entry capillary pressure pec (SI unit: Pa), the Constitutive relations constant mvG (dimensionless), and Constitutive relations constant lvG (dimensionless).
For Brooks and Corey, enter an Entry capillary pressure pec (SI unit: Pa) and the Pore size distribution index λp (dimensionless).
For Capillary diffusion, enter a capillary diffusion coefficient Dc (SI unit: m2/s) for the phases that are not computed from the volume constraint.
Phase properties
Select the material to use for each phase. Select Boundary material (the default) from the Fluid list to use the material defined for the domain. Select another material to use that material’s properties.
Enter the Density ρ (SI unit: kg/m3), Dynamic viscosity μ (SI unit: Pa·s) and Relative permeability κr (a dimensionless number between 0 and 1) for each phase. The defaults for the Density and Dynamic viscosity are From material, and User defined for the Relative permeability. For User defined, the default values are 1000 kg/m3, 0.001 Pa·s. and , respectively.
The Relative permeability input fields are only available when the Capillary pressure model is set to User defined or Capillary diffusion. In the other cases (van Genuchten or Brooks and Corey) the relative permeabilities are defined by the van Genuchten or Brooks and Corey model. For the van Genuchten and Brooks and Corey model, specify the Residual saturation sri (dimensionless, default value 0) for each phase.
Initial Values
Enter a value or expression in the field for the volume fraction inside the thin barrier of each phase, except for the one computed from the volume constraint, and in the field for the pressure of the phase computed from the volume constraint.
Single Layer Materials in the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual and
Theory for the Multiphase Flow in Porous Media Interface in the Subsurface Flow Module User’s Guide.