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.     

Asymptotic stability of viscous shock wave profiles for viscous conservation laws

This paper is concerned with the asymptotic stability of travelling wave solution to the two-dimensional steady isentropic irrotational flow with artificial viscosity. We prove that there exists a unique travelling wave solution up to a shift to the system if the end states satisfy both the Rankine–Hugoniot condition and Lax's shock condition, and that the travelling wave solution is stable if the initial disturbance is small.     

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.     

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 solutions with shock waves to the generalized Riemann problem for a class of quasilinear hyperbolic systems of balance laws

It is proven that the generalized Riemann problem for a class of quasilinear hyperbolic systems of balance laws admits a unique global piecewise C¹$C^1$ solution u=u(t,x)$u=u(t,x)$ containing only n$n$ shock waves with small amplitude on t?0$t?0$ and this solution possesses a global structure similar to that of the similarity solution u=U(x/t)$u=U(x/t)$ of the corresponding homogeneous Riemann problem. As an application of our result, we prove the existence of global shock solutions, piecewise continuous and piecewise smooth solution with shock discontinuities, of the flow equations of a model class of fluids with viscosity induced by fading memory with a single jump initial data.     

Solutions to quasilinear hyperbolic conservation laws with initial discontinuities

We study the singular structure of a family of two dimensional non-self-similar global solutions and their interactions for quasilinear hyperbolic conservation laws. For the case when the initial discontinuity happens only on two disjoint unit circles and the initial data are two different constant states, global solutions are constructed and some new phenomena are discovered. In the analysis, we first construct the solution for 0 ≤ t T~*.Then, when T~*≤ t T′, we get a new shock wave between two rarefactions, and then, when t T′,another shock wave between two shock waves occurs. Finally, we give the large time behavior of the solution when t →∞. The technique does not involve dimensional reduction or coordinate transformation.     

Generalized Glimm scheme to the initial boundary value problem of hyperbolic systems of balance laws

In this paper we provide a generalized version of the Glimm scheme to establish the global existence of weak solutions to the initial-boundary value problem of 2×2 hyperbolic systems of conservation laws with source terms. We extend the methods in [J.B. Goodman, Initial boundary value problem for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, Ph.D. Dissertation, Stanford University, 1982; J.M. Hong, An extension of Glimm’s method to inhomogeneous strictly hyperbolic systems of conservation laws by “weaker than weak” solutions of the Riemann problem, J. Differential Equations 222 (2006) 515-549] to construct the approximate solutions of Riemann and boundary Riemann problems, which can be adopted as the building block of approximate solutions for our initial-boundary value problem. By extending the results in [J. Glimm, Solutions in the large for nonlinear hyperbolic systems of equations, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 18 (1965) 697-715] and showing the weak convergence of residuals, we obtain stability and consistency of the scheme.     

A multiresolution finite volume scheme for two-dimensional hyperbolic conservation laws

In this paper, high-resolution finite volume schemes are combined with an adaptive mesh technique inspired by multiresolution analysis to improve the computational efficiency for two-dimensional hyperbolic conservation laws. The method is conservative. Moreover, it is stable which is proven numerically in this paper. The computational grid is dynamically adapted so that higher spatial resolution is automatically allocated to regions where strong gradients are observed. Using this proposed scheme, we compute several two-dimensional model problems and a compressive rate ranging from about 5–10 is observed in all simulations.     

Upwind finite volume schemes for weakly coupled hyperbolic systems of conservation laws in 2D

Summary. Systems of nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws in two space dimensions are considered which are characterized by the fact that the coupling of the equations is only due to source terms. To solve these weakly coupled systems numerically a class of explicit and implicit upwind finite volume methods on unstructured grids is presented. Provided an unique entropy solution of the system of conservation laws exists we prove that the approximations obtained by these schemes converge for vanishing discretization parameter to this entropy solution. These results are applied to examples from combustion theory and hydrology where the existence of entropy solutions can be shown. The proofs rely on an extension of a result due to DiPerna concerning measure valued solutions to the case of weakly coupled hyperbolic systems. Received April 29, 1997     

Vanishing viscosity with short wave-long wave interactions for multi-D scalar conservation laws

We consider a system coupling a multidimensional semilinear Schrödinger equation and a multidimensional nonlinear scalar conservation law with viscosity, which is motivated by a model of short wave-long wave interaction introduced by Benney (1977). We prove the global existence and uniqueness of the solution of the Cauchy problem for this system. We also prove the convergence of the whole sequence of solutions when the viscosity ε and the interaction parameter α approach zero so that α=o(ε1/2). We also indicate how to extend these results to more general systems which couple multidimensional semilinear systems of Schrödinger equations with multidimensional nonlinear systems of scalar conservation laws mildly coupled.     

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.     

Global solutions of nonconcave hyperbolic conservation laws with relaxation arising from traffic flow

We establish global solutions of nonconcave hyperbolic equations with relaxation arising from traffic flow. One of the characteristic fields of the system is neither linearly degenerate nor genuinely nonlinear. Furthermore, there is no dissipative mechanism in the relaxation system. Characteristics travel no faster than traffic. The global existence and uniqueness of the solution to the Cauchy problem are established by means of a finite difference approximation. To deal with the nonconcavity, we use a modified argument of Oleinik (Amer. Math. Soc. Translations 26 (1963) 95). It is also shown that the zero relaxation limit of the solutions exists and is the unique entropy solution of the equilibrium equation.     

Global transonic conic shock wave for the symmetrically perturbed supersonic flow past a cone

In this paper, we are concerned with the global existence and stability of a steady transonic conic shock wave for the symmetrically perturbed supersonic flow past an infinitely long conic body. The flow is assumed to be polytropic, isentropic and described by a steady potential equation. Theoretically, as indicated in [R. Courant, K.O. Friedrichs, Supersonic Flow and Shock Waves, Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 1948], it follows from the Rankine-Hugoniot conditions and the entropy condition that there will appear a weak shock or a strong shock attached at the vertex of the sharp cone in terms of the different pressure states at infinity behind the shock surface, which correspond to the supersonic shock and the transonic shock respectively. In the references [Shuxing Chen, Zhouping Xin, Huicheng Yin, Global shock wave for the supersonic flow past a perturbed cone, Comm. Math. Phys. 228 (2002) 47-84; Dacheng Cui, Huicheng Yin, Global conic shock wave for the steady supersonic flow past a cone: Polytropic case, preprint, 2006; Dacheng Cui, Huicheng Yin, Global conic shock wave for the steady supersonic flow past a cone: Isothermal case, Pacific J. Math. 233 (2) (2007) 257-289] and [Zhouping Xin, Huicheng Yin, Global multidimensional shock wave for the steady supersonic flow past a three-dimensional curved cone, Anal. Appl. 4 (2) (2006) 101-132], the authors have established the global existence and stability of a supersonic shock for the perturbed hypersonic incoming flow past a sharp cone when the pressure at infinity is appropriately smaller than that of the incoming flow. At present, for the supersonic symmetric incoming flow, we will study the global transonic shock problem when the pressure at infinity is appropriately large.     

Stable hyperbolic singularities for three-phase flow models in oil reservoir simulation

We study the characteristic speeds of systems of two conservation laws representing three-phase flow in a porous medium with gravity taken into account.Generically hyperbolicity fails on open regions (elliptic regions) where the characteristic speeds assume complex values. The presence of such regions creates difficulties such as multiple solutions which indicate a modeling problem, according to some authors.The hyperbolicity of the models we study depends on the relative permeability functions. It is customary in oil engineering studies to suppose that the water and gas permeabilities depend only on their respective saturation, while the oil relative permeability changes with the gas and water saturations. Such a hypothesis on the oil relative permeability generically leads to elliptic regions.We define a set of three curves that surround elliptic regions of any model. By studying these curves, we indicate a procedure to locate the singularities and prove that for any choice of gravitational and viscosity parameters such regions shrinks to points where the characteristic speeds are real and equal, provided it is assumed that each relative permeability depends on its respective saturation only. Our results, together with a paper of Trangenstein, lead to the conclusion that in order to insure real wave speeds, such an assumption is necessary and sufficient when gravitational effects are considered in three-phase models.Research supported by Brazillian Government grant from CNPq under number 204395/88.7.     

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.     

Global supersonic conic shock wave for the steady supersonic flow past a cone: Polytropic gas

In this paper, we establish the global existence and stability of a steady conic shock wave for the symmetrically perturbed supersonic flow past an infinitely long conic body as long as the vertex angle is less than a critical value. The flow is assumed to be polytropic, isentropic and described by a steady potential equation. Based on the delicate asymptotic expansion of the background solution, one can verify that the boundary conditions on the shock and the conic surface satisfy the “dissipative” property. From this property, by use of the reflected characteristics method and the special form of the shock equation, we show that the conic shock attached at the vertex of the cone exists globally in the whole space when the speed of the supersonic coming flow is appropriately large. On the other hand, we remove the smallness restriction on the sharp vertex angle in order to establish the global existence of a shock or a global weak solution, moreover, our proof approach is different from that in [Shuxing Chen, Zhouping Xin, Huicheng Yin, Global shock wave for the supersonic flow past a perturbed cone, Comm. Math. Phys. 228 (2002) 47-84] and [Zhouping Xin, Huicheng Yin, Global multidimensional shock wave for the steady supersonic flow past a three-dimensional curved cone, Anal. Appl. 4 (2) (2006) 101-132].     

Nonlinear geometric optics for contact discontinuities and shock waves in one-dimensional Euler system for gas dynamics

The aim of this paper is to study the rigorous theory of nonlinear geometric optics for a contact discontinuity and a shock wave to the Euler system for one-dimensional gas dynamics. For the problem of a contact discontinuity and a shock wave perturbed by a small amplitude, high frequency oscillatory wave train, under suitable stability assumptions, we obtain that the perturbed problem has still a shock wave and a contact discontinuity, and we give their asymptotic expansions.     

Convergence of finite volume schemes for triangular systems of conservation laws

We consider non-strictly hyperbolic systems of conservation laws in triangular form, which arise in applications like three-phase flows in porous media. We device simple and efficient finite volume schemes of Godunov type for these systems that exploit the triangular structure. We prove that the finite volume schemes converge to weak solutions as the discretization parameters tend to zero. Some numerical examples are presented, one of which is related to flows in porous media. The research of K. H. Karlsen was supported by an Outstanding Young Investigators Award from the Research Council of Norway.