An illustrative hydraulic fracturing flow simulation system includes: a data acquisition module collecting measurements from a subterranean formation; a processing module implementing a hydraulic fracturing simulation method; and a visualization module that displays the time-dependent spatial distribution. The simulation method includes: deriving from the measurements a network of fractures having junctions where two or more fractures intersect; ordering a set of corner points associated with each junction; calculating a junction area from each set of corner points; determining a current state that includes flow parameter values at discrete points arranged along the fractures in said network; constructing a set of linear equations for deriving a subsequent state from the current state while accounting for said junction areas; and repeatedly solving the set of linear equations to obtain a sequence of subsequent states, the sequence embodying a time-dependent spatial distribution of at least one flow parameter.
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