Modeling Diffusion in One Dimensional Discontinuous Media under Generalized Permeable Interface Conditions: Theory and Algorithms

SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing, Volume 46, Issue 4, Page A2202-A2223, August 2024.
Abstract. Diffusive transport in media with discontinuous properties is a challenging problem that arises in many applications. This paper focuses on one dimensional discontinuous media with generalized permeable boundary conditions at the discontinuity interface. It presents novel analytical expressions from the method of images to simulate diffusive processes, such as mass or thermal transport. The analytical expressions are used to formulate a generalization of the existing Skew Brownian Motion, HYMLA, and Uffink’s method, here named as GSBM, GHYMLA, and GUM, respectively, to handle generic interface conditions. The algorithms rely upon the random walk method and are tested by simulating transport in a bimaterial and in a multilayered medium with piecewise constant properties. The results indicate that the GUM algorithm provides the best performance in terms of accuracy and computational cost. The methods proposed can be applied for simulation of a wide range of differential problems.