Unequal order T-spline meshes for fracture in poroelastic media

Abstract Spline-based meshes allow for a higher inter-element continuity. For coupled problems, e.g. poroelasticity, different with orders of interpolation are normally used the various fields in order to avoid spurious oscillations. When including discontinuities these meshes, there exist several options discretisation. Herein we will discuss two which use T-splines, one aiming at minimum number degrees freedom around crack tip, other trying maximise this number. Both retain higher-order continuity along fracture, but mesh maximises introduces additional tip sharper crack. The discretisations simulate pressurised fracture inside poroelastic material and results compared obtained using Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) mesh. A comparison between shows effect close tip. However, both yield similar further away from It is shown that T-spline capture fully closed discontinuity whereas NURBS retains small opening due exists cracked as well intact elements. aperture T-splines lower pressure NURBS, making more suitable simulations propagation limited by fluid transport within fracture.