Finite volume schemes for multi-dimensional hyperbolic systems based on the use of bicharacteristics

In this paper we present recent results for the bicharacteristic based finite volume schemes, the so-called finite volume evolution Galerkin (FVEG) schemes. These methods were proposed to solve multi-dimensional hyperbolic conservation laws. They combine the usually conflicting design objectives of using the conservation form and following the characteristics, or bicharacteristics. This is realized by combining the finite volume formulation with approximate evolution operators, which use bicharacteristics of the multi-dimensional hyperbolic system. In this way all of the infinitely many directions of wave propagation are taken into account. The main goal of this paper is to present a self-contained overview on the recent results. We study the L ¹-stability of the finite volume schemes obtained by various approximations of the flux integrals. Several numerical experiments presented in the last section confirm robustness and correct multi-dimensional behaviour of the FVEG methods. This research has been supported under the VW-Stiftung grant I 76 859, by the grant No 201/03 0570 of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant GK 431 and partially by the European network HYKE, funded by the EC as contract HPRN-CT-2002-00282.