Uniqueness of entropy solutions for nonlinear degenerate parabolic problems

We consider the general degenerate parabolic equation: We prove existence of Kruzkhov entropy solutions of the associated Cauchy problem for bounded data where the flux function F is supposed to be continuous. Uniqueness is established under some additional assumptions on the modulus of continuity of F and b.     

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.     

Semilinear behavior for totally linearly degenerate hyperbolic systems with relaxation

We investigate totally linearly degenerate hyperbolic systems with relaxation. We aim to study their semilinear behavior, which means that the local smooth solutions cannot develop shocks, and the global existence is controlled by the supremum bound of the solution. In this paper we study two specific examples: the Suliciu-type and the Kerr-Debye-type models. For the Suliciu model, which arises from the numerical approximation of isentropic flows, the semilinear behavior is obtained using pointwise estimates of the gradient. For the Kerr-Debye systems, which arise in nonlinear optics, we show the semilinear behavior via energy methods. For the original Kerr-Debye model, thanks to the special form of the interaction terms, we can show the global existence of smooth solutions.     

An analysis of front tracking for chromatography

We prove that front tracking has a convergent subsequence for the equations of chromatography for initial data with large variation. We show that this is also true for a variant of front tracking which tracks all waves. An example of a computation with the latter is presented.Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under contract W-7405-ENG.36. The publisher recognizes the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or to allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes.     

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.     

Nonrelativistic Euler–Maxwell systems

Results of two previous papers are used to reexamine Galilean symmetric Euler–Maxwell systems as candidate models of magnetohydrodynamic flow. For a single, electrically charged fluid, the results are largely negative. Under expected physical conditions, inclusion of the magnetic force on the fluid all but necessarily results in a modified Lundquist system. However the treatment is unsatisfactory in several respects.     

Nonlinear stability of strong rarefaction waves for the generalized KdV-Burgers-Kuramoto equation with large initial perturbation

In was shown in Ruan et al. (2008) [3] that rarefaction waves for the generalized KdV-Burgers-Kuramoto equation are nonlinearly stable provided that both the strength of the rarefaction waves and the initial perturbation are sufficiently small. The main purpose of this work is concerned with nonlinear stability of strong rarefaction waves for the generalized KdV-Burgers-Kuramoto equation with large initial perturbation. In our results, we do not require the strength of the rarefaction waves to be small and when the smooth nonlinear flux function satisfies certain growth condition at infinity, the initial perturbation can be chosen arbitrarily in , while for a general smooth nonlinear flux function, we need to ask for the L²-norm of the initial perturbation to be small but the L²-norm of the first derivative of the initial perturbation can be large and, consequently, the -norm of the initial perturbation can also be large.     

Global singularity structures of weak solutions to 4-D semilinear dispersive wave equations

In this paper, we are concerned with the global singularity structures of weak solutions to 4-D semilinear dispersive wave equations whose initial data are chosen to be discontinuous on the unit sphere. Combining Strichartz's inequality with the commutator argument techniques, we show that the weak solutions are C²−regular away from the focusing cone surface |x|=|t−1| and the outgoing cone surface |x|=t+1. This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Doctoral Foundation of NEM of China.     

Global singularity structure of weak solutions to 3-D semilinear dispersive wave equations with discontinuous initial data

We study the global singularity structure of solutions to 3-D semilinear wave equations with discontinuous initial data. More precisely, using Strichartz’ inequality we show that the solutions stay conormal after nonlinear interaction if the Cauchy data are conormal along a circle.     

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.     

On general balance laws with boundary

This paper is devoted to general balance laws (with a possibly non-local source term) with a non-characteristic boundary. Basic well posedness results are obtained. New uniqueness results for the solutions to conservation and/or balance laws with boundary are also provided.     

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.     

On the breakdown of classical solutions of the planar motion of an elastic string

We prove a result of formation of singularities for the classical solutions of the planar motion of a nonlinear elastic string. In a particular, but physically relevant, case we give a characterization of the global C¹ solutions with positive tension.     

Interaction of rarefaction waves in jet stream

In this paper we present a mathematical analysis of a supersonic jet stream out of an orifice into the atmosphere. The analysis involves the interaction of steady rarefaction waves, and the interaction of a rarefaction wave by the interface of the jet stream. The existence of the classical solution in the region of interactions of rarefaction waves is established. For small pressure difference the existence of the classical solution in the region of reflection is also obtained. Finally, for large pressure difference vacuum may be produced by strong expanding, and the corresponding wave structure with vacuum is also analyzed.     

Delta shock wave formation in the case of triangular hyperbolic system of conservation laws

We describe δ-shock wave generation from continuous initial data in the case of triangular conservation law system arising from “generalized pressureless gas dynamics model.” We use smooth approximations in the weak sense that are more general than small viscosity approximations.     

Global structure and asymptotic behavior of weak solutions to flood wave equations

The present paper concerns with the global structure and asymptotic behavior of the discontinuous solutions to flood wave equations. By solving a free boundary problem, we first obtain the global structure and large time behavior of the weak solutions containing two shock waves. For the Cauchy problem with a class of initial data, we use Glimm scheme to obtain a uniform BV estimate both with respect to time and the relaxation parameter. This yields the global existence of BV solution and convergence to the equilibrium equation as the relaxation parameter tends to 0.     

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.     

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.     

Local existence with physical vacuum boundary condition to Euler equations with damping

In this paper, we consider the local existence of solutions to Euler equations with linear damping under the assumption of physical vacuum boundary condition. By using the transformation introduced in Lin and Yang (Methods Appl. Anal. 7 (3) (2000) 495) to capture the singularity of the boundary, we prove a local existence theorem on a perturbation of a planar wave solution by using Littlewood-Paley theory and justifies the transformation introduced in Liu and Yang (2000) in a rigorous setting.     

Global entropy solutions to a class of quasi-linear wave equations with large time-oscillating sources

This research explores the Cauchy problem for a class of quasi-linear wave equations with time dependent sources. It can be transformed into the Cauchy problem of hyperbolic integro-differential systems of nonlinear balance laws. We introduce the generalized Glimm scheme in new version and study its stability which is proved by Glimm-type interaction estimates in a dissipativity assumption. The generalized solutions to the perturbed Riemann problems, the building blocks of generalized Glimm scheme, are constructed by Riemann problem method modeled on the source free equations. The global existence for the Lipschitz continuous solutions and weak solutions to the systems is established by the consistency of scheme and the weak convergence of source. Finally, the weak solutions are also the entropy solutions which satisfy the entropy inequality.