Stability of the Riemann solutions for a nonstrictly hyperbolic system of conservation laws

We prove that the Riemann solutions are stable for a nonstrictly hyperbolic system of conservation laws under local small perturbations of the Riemann initial data. The proof is based on the detailed analysis of the interactions of delta shock waves with shock waves and rarefaction waves. During the interaction process of the delta shock wave with the rarefaction wave, a new kind of nonclassical wave, namely a delta contact discontinuity, is discovered here, which is a Dirac delta function supported on a contact discontinuity and has already appeared in the interaction process for the magnetohydrodynamics equations [M. Nedeljkov and M. Oberguggenberger, Interactions of delta shock waves in a strictly hyperbolic system of conservation laws, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 344 (2008) 1143-1157]. Moreover, the global structures and large time asymptotic behaviors of the solutions are constructed and analyzed case by case.     

Global structure of Riemann solutions to a system of two-dimensional hyperbolic conservation laws

The Riemann problem for a two-dimensional nonstrictly hyperbolic system of conservation laws is considered. Without the restriction that each jump of the initial data projects one planar elementary wave, ten topologically distinct solutions are obtained by applying the method of generalized characteristic analysis. Some of these solutions involve the nonclassical waves, i.e., the delta shock wave and the delta contact discontinuity, for which we explicitly give the expressions of their strengths, locations and propagation speeds. Moreover, we demonstrate that the nature of our solutions is identical with that of solutions to the corresponding one-dimensional Cauchy problem, which provides a verification that our construction produces the correct unique global solutions.     

Nonuniqueness of solutions of Riemann problems

We investigate a general mechanism, utilizing nonclassical shock waves, for nonuniqueness of solutions of Riemann initial-value problems for systems of two conservation laws. This nonuniqueness occurs whenever there exists a pair of viscous shock waves forming a 2-cycle, i.e., two statesU ₁ andU ₂ such that a traveling wave leads fromU ₁ toU ₂ and another leads fromU ₂ toU ₁. We prove that a 2-cycle gives rise to an open region of Riemann data for which there exist multiple solutions of the Riemann problem, and we determine all solutions within a certain class. We also present results from numerical experiments that illustrate how these solutions arise in the time-asymptotic limit of solutions of the conservation laws, as augmented by viscosity terms.     

Shadow wave solution for the generalized Langmuir isotherm in chromatography

The shadow wave solution of the Riemann problem for the chromatography system under the mixed competitive-cooperative generalized Langmuir isotherm is constructed. It is shown that this shadow wave solution is weakly unique in the sense that all the entropy shadow wave solutions have the same distributional limit which is exactly the corresponding delta shock wave solution of the Riemann problem. Furthermore, the generalized Riemann problem with the delta type initial data is also considered and the existence and weak uniqueness of a solution are obtained in the framework of shadow wave solution.     

Global structure stability of Riemann solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws: shocks and contact discontinuities

In this paper, the author proves the global structure stability of the Lax's Riemann solution , containing only shocks and contact discontinuities, of general n×n quasilinear hyperbolic system of conservation laws. More precisely, the author proves the global existence and uniqueness of the piecewise C¹ solution u=u(t,x) of a class of generalized Riemann problem, which can be regarded as a perturbation of the corresponding Riemann problem, for the quasilinear hyperbolic system of conservation laws; moreover, this solution has a global structure similar to that of the solution . Combining the results in Kong (Global structure instability of Riemann solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws: rarefaction waves, to appear), the author proves that the Lax's Riemann solution of general n×n quasilinear hyperbolic system of conservation laws is globally structurally stable if and only if it contains only non-degenerate shocks and contact discontinuities, but no rarefaction waves and other weak discontinuities.     

Global structure instability of Riemann solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws: Rarefaction waves

This work is a continuation of our previous work (Kong, J. Differential Equations 188 (2003) 242-271) “Global structure stability of Riemann solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws: shocks and contact discontinuities”. In the present paper we prove the global structure instability of the Lax's Riemann solution , containing rarefaction waves, of general n×n quasilinear hyperbolic system of conservation laws. Combining the results in (Kong, 2003), we prove that the Lax's Riemann solution of general n×n quasilinear hyperbolic system of conservation laws is globally structurally stable if and only if it contains only non-degenerate shocks and contact discontinuities, but no rarefaction waves and other weak discontinuities.     

Stability of Riemann solutions with large oscillation for the relativistic Euler equations

We are concerned with entropy solutions of the 2×2 relativistic Euler equations for perfect fluids in special relativity. We establish the uniqueness of Riemann solutions in the class of entropy solutions in L^∞∩BV_loc with arbitrarily large oscillation. Our proof for solutions with large oscillation is based on a detailed analysis of global behavior of shock curves in the phase space and on special features of centered rarefaction waves in the physical plane for this system. The uniqueness result does not require specific reference to any particular method for constructing the entropy solutions. Then the uniqueness of Riemann solutions yields their inviscid large-time stability under arbitrarily largeL¹∩L^∞∩BV_loc perturbation of the Riemann initial data, as long as the corresponding solutions are in L^∞ and have local bounded total variation that allows the linear growth in time. We also extend our approach to deal with the uniqueness and stability of Riemann solutions containing vacuum in the class of entropy solutions in L^∞ with arbitrarily large oscillation.     

The Riemann problem with delta initial data for a class of coupled hyperbolic systems of conservation laws

In this paper, we solve the Riemann problem with the initial data containing Dirac delta functions for a class of coupled hyperbolic systems of conservation laws. Under suitably generalized Rankine–Hugoniot relation and entropy condition, the existence and uniqueness of solutions involving delta shock waves are proved. Further, four kinds of different structure for solutions are established uniquely.     

Nonlinear diffusion waves for hyperbolic p-system with nonlinear damping

This paper is concerned with the p-system of hyperbolic conservation laws with nonlinear damping. When the constant states are small, the solutions of the Cauchy problem for the damped p-system globally exist and converge to their corresponding nonlinear diffusion waves, which are the solutions of the corresponding nonlinear parabolic equation given by the Darcy's law. The optimal convergence rates are also obtained. In order to overcome the difficulty caused by the nonlinear damping, a couple of correction functions have been technically constructed. The approach adopted is the elementary energy method together with the technique of approximating Green function. On the other hand, when the constant states are large, the solutions of the Cauchy problem for the p-system will blow up at a finite time.     

One-sided exact boundary null controllability of entropy solutions to a class of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws

In this paper, the one-sided exact boundary null controllability of entropy solutions is studied for a class of general strictly hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, whose negative (or positive) characteristic families are all linearly degenerate. The authors first prove the well-posedness of semi-global solutions constructed as the limit of ε-approximate front tracking solutions to the mixed initial-boundary value problem with general nonlinear boundary conditions and they establish various properties of both the ε-approximate front tracking solutions and such solutions. By means of essential modifications of the strategy suggested by the first author in [17] originally for the local exact boundary controllability in the framework of classical solutions, the one-sided local exact boundary null controllability of entropy solutions can then be realized via boundary controls acting on one side of the boundary, where the incoming characteristics are all linearly degenerate.     

Interactions of delta shock waves and stability of Riemann solutions for nonlinear chromatography equations

This paper is devoted to studying the simplified nonlinear chromatography equations by introducing the change of state variables. The Riemann solutions containing delta shock waves are presented. In order to study wave interactions of delta shock waves with elementary waves, the global structure of solutions is constructed completely when the initial data are taken as three pieces of constants and the delta shock waves are included. In particular, the strength of delta shock wave is expressed explicitly and the delta contact discontinuity is discovered during the process of wave interactions. Moreover, by analyzing the limits of the solutions as the middle region vanishes, we observe that the Riemann solutions are stable for such a local small perturbation of the Riemann initial data.     

On the Riemann problem for 2D compressible Euler equations in three pieces

The Riemann problem for two-dimensional isentropic Euler equations is considered. The initial data are three constants in three fan domains forming different angles. Under the assumption that only a rarefaction wave, shock wave or contact discontinuity connects two neighboring constant initial states, it is proved that the cases involving three shock or rarefaction waves are impossible. For the cases involving one rarefaction (shock) wave and two shock (rarefaction) waves, only the combinations when the three elementary waves have the same sign are possible (impossible).     

The singular solutions to a nonsymmetric system of Keyfitz-Kranzer type with initial data of Riemann type

The solutions to the Riemann problem for a nonsymmetric system of Keyfitz-Kranzer type are constructed explicitly when the initial data are located in the quarter phase plane. In particular, some singular hyperbolic waves are discovered when one of the Riemann initial data is located on the boundary of the quarter phase plane, such as the delta shock wave and some composite waves in which the contact discontinuity coincides with the shock wave or the wave back of rarefaction wave. The double Riemann problem for this system with three piecewise constant states is also considered when the delta shock wave is involved. Furthermore, the global solutions to the double Riemann problem are constructed through studying the interaction between the delta shock wave and the other elementary waves by using the method of characteristics. Some interesting nonlinear phenomena are discovered during the process of constructing solutions; for example, a delta shock wave is decomposed into a delta contact discontinuity and a shock wave.     

Interactions of delta shock waves for the relativistic Chaplygin Euler equations with split delta functions

In this article, we are concerned with the interactions of delta shock waves with contact discontinuities for the relativistic Euler equations for Chaplygin gas by using split delta functions method. The solutions are obtained constructively and globally when the initial data consists of three piecewise constant states. The global structure and large time‐asymptotic behaviors of the solutions are analyzed case by case. During the process of the interaction, the strengths of delta shock waves are computed completely. Moreover, it can be found that the Riemann solutions are stable for such small perturbations with special initial data by letting perturbed parameter ε tends to zero. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A probabilistic model associated with the pressureless gas dynamics

Using a method of stochastic perturbation of a Langevin system associated with the non-viscous Burgers equation we introduce a system of PDE that can be considered as a regularization of the pressureless gas dynamics describing sticky particles. By means of this regularization we describe how starting from smooth data a δ-singularity arises in the component of density. Namely, we find the asymptotics of solution at the point of the singularity formation as the parameter of stochastic perturbation tends to zero. Then we introduce a generalized solution in the sense of free particles (FP-solution) as a special limit of the solution to the regularized system. This solution corresponds to a medium consisting of non-interacting particles. The FP-solution is a bridging step to constructing solutions to the Riemann problem for the pressureless gas dynamics describing sticky particles. We analyze the difference in the behavior of discontinuous solutions for these two models and the relations between them. In our framework we obtain a unique entropy solution to the Riemann problem in 1D case.     

Stability of the Riemann solutions for a Chaplygin gas

In this paper, we study the structural stability of solutions to the Riemann problem for one-dimensional isentropic Chaplygin gas. We perturb the Riemann initial data by taking three piecewise constant states and construct the global structure. By letting the perturbed parameter ε$\epsilon$ tend to zero, we prove that the Riemann solutions are stable under the local small perturbations of the Riemann initial data even when the initial perturbed density depending on the parameter but with no mass concentration limit.     

Structural stability of solutions to the Riemann problem for a scalar conservation law

The aim of this paper is to study the structural stability of solutions to the Riemann problem for a scalar conservation law with a linear flux function involving discontinuous coefficients. It is proved that the Riemann solution is possibly instable when one of the Riemann initial data is at the vacuum. Furthermore, we point out that the Riemann solution is also possibly instable even when the Riemann initial data stay far away from vacuum. In order to deal with it, we perturb the Riemann initial data by taking three piecewise constant states and then the global structures and large time asymptotic behaviors of the solutions are obtained constructively. It is also proved that the Riemann solutions are unstable in some certain situations under the local small perturbations of the Riemann initial data by letting the perturbed parameter ε tend to zero. In addition, the interaction of the delta standing wave and the contact vacuum state is considered which appear in the Riemann solutions.     

One-dimensional nonlinear chromatography system and delta-shock waves

The Riemann problem for the nonlinear chromatography system is considered. Existence and admissibility of δ-shock type solution in both variables are established for this system. By the interactions of δ-shock wave with elementary waves, the generalized Riemann problem for this system is presented, the global solutions are constructed, and the large time-asymptotic behavior of the solutions are analyzed. Moreover, by studying the limits of the solutions as perturbed parameter ${\varepsilon}$ tends to zero, one can observe that the Riemann solutions are stable for such perturbations of the initial data.     

An investigation of the internal structure of shock profiles for shock capturing schemes

The theoretical understanding of discrete shock transitions obtained by shock capturing schemes is very incomplete. Previous experimental studies indicate that discrete shock transitions obtained by shock capturing schemes can be modeled by continuous functions, so called continuum shock profiles. However, the previous papers have focused on linear methods. We have experimentally studied the trajectories of discrete shock profiles in phase space for a range of different high resolution shock capturing schemes, including Riemann solver based flux limiter methods, high resolution central schemes and ENO type methods. In some cases, no continuum profiles exists. However, in these cases the point values in the shock transitions remain bounded and appear to converge toward a stable limit cycle. The possibility of such behavior was anticipated in Bultelle, Grassin and Serre, 1998, but no specific examples, or other evidence, of this behavior have previously been given. In other cases, our results indicate that continuum shock profiles exist, but are very complicated. We also study phase space orbits with regard to post shock oscillations.     

Interactions of delta shock waves for the transport equations with split delta functions

This paper is concerned with the interactions of δ-shock waves and the vacuum states between the two contact discontinuities for the transport equations. The solutions are obtained constructively when the initial data are three piecewise constant states. The global structure and large time-asymptotic behaviors of the solutions are analyzed case by case. Moreover, it can be found that the Riemann solutions are stable for such small perturbations with initial data by studying the limits of the solutions when the perturbed parameter ε tends to zero.