Source: Journal of Physics A-Mathematical and General, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 49-56, 1987; DOI: 10.

1088/0305-4470/20/2/002

The Proper Analytical Solution of the Korteweg-de

Vries-Burgers Equation
Jian-Jun SHU

 follows:
Abstract—The asymptotic expansion of the Korteweg-de u  c1 u  c 2 u 2  c3 u  c0 (4)
Vries-Burgers equation is presented in this paper.
where c1    , c 2  1 , c 3    and the integral constant
 2 
Index Terms—Asymptotic expansion, differential equation,
Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers (KdVB) equation, soliton.  2
. If c0  0 , a simple translation transformation,
c0  
2

( c~0   c 3  c 3  4c0 c 2 ), can be made.

2
~~
u u c0 u~
I. INTRODUCTION 2c 2
It is common knowledge that many physical problems satisfies the following equation:
~ 2  c  2 c ~
2 c0  u  0
(such as non-linear shallow-water waves and wave motion in ~ c u
u ~ c u ~ . Without loss of
 1  2 3
plasmas) can be described by the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) generality, we shall confine ourselves to the consideration of
equation [1]. It is well known that solitons and solitary waves c0  0 alone from now on. It can be further assumed that
are the class of special solutions of the KdV equation. In ~
  0 , because the discussion on    can be made in the
order to study the problems of liquid flow containing gas
same manner for   0 . Equation (4) can be written as a
bubbles [2], fluid flow in elastic tubes [3], and so on, the
governing equation can be reduced to the so-called system of first-order equations:
du
Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers (KdVB) equation as follows [4]: v
d (5)
u u  u 2
 u 3
u   0 . (1) dv
 c 2 u u  2    c1 v .
t x x 2 x 3 d
This equation is equivalent to the KdV equation if a viscous According to the qualitative theory of ordinary differential
dissipation term (   u ) is added. The studies of the KdV
2
equations, the system of first-order equations (5) has two
x
2
singular points, ( 0 , 0 ) and ( 2 , 0 ). The singular point ( 0 ,
equation [1] (   0 ) and the Burgers equation [5] (   0 )
0 ) is invariably a saddle point. The singular point ( 2 , 0 )
have been undertaken, but the exact solution for the general has three different cases which depend on the values of  , 
case of equation (1) (   0 ,   0 ) has still not been
and  .
completed. A If   2  , ( 2 , 0 ) is a nodal point.
In studying the theory of ordinary differential equations
and applications, it is clear that the asymptotic expansion is B If 0    2  , ( 2 , 0 ) is a focal point.
highly important. The asymptotic expansion of equation (1) C If   0 , ( 2 , 0 ) is a central point.
is presented in this paper. It would be useful to understand The three classes of solutions are roughly shown in Fig. The
thoroughly the property of the solution to the KdVB equation. asymptotic expansion is one which is real and continuous if
The asymptotic expansion would provide a reliable basis for the argument is greater than a certain value. The following
estimating the advantages, and disadvantages of numerical variable transformation can be made:
c1 1 k 
methods associated with equation (1).  c12 k 2
u  e 2
y  ,   e c k
1
(6)
c2

where k  1  4c3  1  4   1 is a constant. Equation (4)

II. TRANSFORMATION 2
c1 2

The following new variable is introduced as [6], [7]: ( c0  0 ) can be reduced to the Emden-Fowler equation
  x  t (2) d2y
   y2 (7)
Equation (1) can be written as d 2
u u  2u  3u where   1  5k . It is obvious that   2 if   0 , and
 u      0 . (3)
t   2
 3 2k
The so-called travelling-wave solution, i.e. u  f   , shall  2   
5 if   0 . Some characteristics of the KdVB
2
be considered here. By integrating formula (3) with respect to
equation can be derived based on equation (7).
 , a non-linear differential equation can be obtained as

Jian-Jun SHU is with School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering,

Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798
(e-mail: mjjshu@ntu.edu.sg).
 asymptotic expansion of the KdVB equation.

Theorem 2. If   0 , the negative asymptotic expansion of

the KdVB equation has the following form:
k 1 k 1
2k 2 2 u  8 k 4 2 u 2
1  O1 (8)
 
u e 2
 e 
 k  13k  1
as    , where k  1  4 , and u   0 is constant.
2


Fig. Typical solutions of the KdVB equation: A is a dissipation-dominant

Proof. Here  2     5 for   0 . If u has a negative
2
solution for a monotonic shock wave, B is a chromatic dispersion-dominant
solution for an oscillatory shock wave, and C is a solitary-wave solution of
asymptotic expansion, y has a positive asymptotic
the KdV equation. expansion. Since d2y for   0 , y' must be
   y2  0
d 2
strictly monotonically increasing for   0 ,  and y must
III. ASYMPTOTIC EXPANSION
be a monotone function for large  . Thus y' has three
Definition. Let y  be an arbitrary function of  . If  0 is a possible cases as    : (1) y'  0 , (2)
zero point and no other zero point except  0 exists in the open
y'  y0 '  const  0 ,and (3) y'   .
interval (  0   ,  0   ) for some   0 ,  0 is called an Let us show that case (2) is impossible. If
isolated zero point of function y  . y'  y0 '  const  0 , y ~ y0 '  , and from equation (7),
1
y' '    y 2 ~ y 0 ' 2    2  y0 ' 2   2 , whose integration yields
Theorem 1. The KdVB equation (4) has finite isolated zero 2
points only. y0 ' 2 for large  , which leads to a
y'    3  
2  3
2
Proof. Since d y    y 2 , y' ' does not change its sign for contradiction.
2
d Then it will be shown that case (3) is impossible. If
  0 ,  . Equation (7) has finite zero points only, except y'   , y'  M for large  and some M  0 , and hence
that it identically vanishes for some intervals. Equation (7) y  Mx . Reverting to equation (7), y' '    y 2  M 2    2 ,
has finite zero points only. The theorem is proved. ■ M2 for large  . Continuing in this
y   4
  3  4 
Theorem 1 indicates that the solution of the KdVB equation is fashion, y  y0  5 can be obtained for large  and the
consistently positive, negative or zero for large arguments, 3

which depends upon the condition of infinite point. In order constant y 0 . Hence from equation (7), y' '    y 2  y0 y 2
3
to obtain the asymptotic expansion of the KdVB equation, the for large  . Since y' is positive, y' y' '  y0 y 2 y' , whose
following three lemmas are introduced here. 1
4 3
integration yields y'  2 y0 y 4 , which is impossible due to
Lemma 1. Integral rule for asymptotic formulae. Let 5
 t  ~ f t  , where f t   0 and does not change in sign, Lemma 2.
  
t t
Consequently it is left with case (l), where y'  0 . Since
  t dt ~  f t dt if  f t  dt   and t  t dt ~ t f t dt if
t0 t0 t0 y'  0 is strictly monotone increasing for   0 ,  , and y is
strictly monotone decreasing for   0 ,  . Since y  0 for


 f t  dt   .
t 0 large  , y has a finite limit u   0 as    .
Let us show that u   0 . If u   0 , y 0     0 is set to
Lemma 2. Character of asymptotic expansion. If f t   0 ,
be small. Since y is strictly monotone decreasing,
and if f ' is a continuous and non-negative function as t  t 0 ,  
   
 
f'  f for t  t 0 any   0 , except perhaps in a set of
1   y 0        y 2 d dt   2      d dt
0  t  0  t 
intervals of finite total length, which depends upon  .
or

  1  2  ,
Lemma 3. Hardy’s theorem. Any solution of equation  0  2
df P f , t  , to be continuous for t  t , is ultimately
 which leads to the contradiction for  sufficiently small.
Q f , t 
0
dt
Then let y   u   0 , y   u   O1 as    :
monotonic, together with all its derivatives, and satisfies one  
u 2
of relations, f ~ at b e E t  or f ~ at b lnt c , where E t  is a y'      y' ' dt    t  y 2 dt    1 1  O1 and thus
   1
polynomial in t and a , b , c are constants.

u 2
y   u    y' dt  u     1  2 
 2
1  O1 . The
The above three lemmas can be adopted to derive the
theorem is proved. ■ v
1 and w  dv , obtaining from equation (10),
y ds
Theorem 3. If   0 , the negative asymptotic expansion of dw 2 w 2
  w10.
w (12)
the KdVB equation has the following form: dv v
k 1
2k 
(9) Since y  0 , v   and dy  0 , w  dv   1 dy  0 is
u~ e 2
ds ds y 2 ds

obtained. Lemma 3 indicates that w has two possible cases
as    , where k  1  4 .
2
 for large v : (iii) w ~ av b e E v  , and (iv) w ~ av b lnv c , where
E v  is a polynomial in v and a  0 , b , c are constants.
Proof. Here   2 for   0 . If u has a negative It is now shown that if case (iii) is satisfied, Ev   const
asymptotic expansion, y has a positive asymptotic and b  0 .
expansion. Similar to above, Ev   const and b  1 .
Let   e s , obtaining from equation (7),
If b  1 , dw ~ a  0 . From equation (12), a  1 is
d 2 y dy dv
  y2  0 . (10)
ds 2 ds obtained, which leads to a contradiction.
If dy at s 0 , d2y If 0  b  1 , dw ~ 1 is obtained from equation (12). By
0  y 2  0 , and y can only have a
ds ds 2 dv
minimum at s 0 . Hence y is a monotone function for large integration, w ~ v is obtained, so that b  1 , which leads to a
 . Thus y has three possible cases as s   : (1) y  0 , contradiction.
(2) y  y0  const  0 , and (3) y   . If b  0 , w dw ~ 1 is obtained from equation (12). By
dv
Let us show that case (2) is impossible. If y  y0  0 , integration, 1 w 2 ~ v is obtained, which leads to a
d 2 y dy 2
 ~ y02 . By integration, dy  y ~ y02 s is obtained. contradiction.
ds 2 ds ds
dy Let us show that if case (iv) is satisfied, b  0 and c  0 .
Since y  y0  0 , this implies ~ y 02 s , from which
ds Similar to above, either b  1 , c  0 , or b  0 .
y~
1 2 2,
y0 s which contradicts y  y0 . If b  1 , c  0 or c  0 , dw ~ 1 or dw ~ 2 w is obtained
2 dv dv v
Let us show that case (3) is impossible. If y   , let from equation (12). By integration, w ~ v or w ~ v 2 is
dy obtained, so that c  0 , which leads to a contradiction. Hence
p , equation (10) becomes
ds b 0.

p
dp
 p  y2  0 . (11) If c  0 , w dw ~ 1 is obtained from equation (12). By
dy dv
integration, 1 w 2 ~ v is obtained, which leads to a
Since y   , p  dy  0 . Lemma 3 indicates that p has 2
ds
contradiction.
two possible cases for large y : (i) p ~ ay b e E  y  , and (ii)
If c  0 , dw ~ 1 is obtained from equation (12). By
p ~ ay b lny  , where E  y  is a polynomial in y and a  0 ,
c
dv
b, c are constants. integration, w ~ v is obtained, so that c  0 , which leads to a
Let us show that case (i) is impossible. If E y    , contradiction.
Summing up and from equation (12), w ~ 1 is obtained, so
p 0 and dp  0 , which lead to a contradiction by
dy that dv ~ 1 as s   . By integration, v ~ s is obtained as
ds
referring to equation (11). If E y    , p  y 2 for large y ,
s   , so that y ~ 1 as    . The theorem is proved.
which is impossible due to Lemma 2. Hence E y   const . ln
b 1
■
If b  1 , p  y 2 for large y , which is impossible due to
Lemma 2. If b  1 , p dp ~ y 2 is obtained from equation (11). Theorem 4. If   0 , the negative asymptotic expansion of
dy
the KdVB equation can be written as
By integration, 1 p 2 ~ 1 y 3 is obtained, so that b  3  1 , 
i 1k 1
2 3 2 2k 2 2 u  
k 1
2k 4 2 
2u  i 1 e 2

which leads to a contradiction. u


e 2


 i

b 1
i 1
  j k  1  2k  j k  1
Let us show that case (ii) is impossible. If b  1 , p  y 2 j 1

for large y , which is impossible due to Lemma 2. If b  1 , (13)

where k  1  4 and u   0 is constant.
dp is obtained from equation (11). By Integration,
p ~ y2 2
dy
1 2 1 3 is obtained, so that b  3  1 , which leads to a i 1k 1
p ~ y 
2 3 2 Proof. Since e 2 exists, the infinite series converges.
contradiction. Let
Consequently it is left with case (l), where y  0 . Let
 
i 1k 1
2k 2 2 u  
k 1
2k 4 2 m
2u  i 1 e 2
,
um  

e 2


 i
i 1
  j k  1  2k  j k  1
j 1

m
2 i 1 u i 1 i   2  .
ym  u   i
i 1
  j   2  1 j   2
j 1

 
 
y m 1 1  O1  u     t 

y m2 1  O1 d dt can be
2

 
obtained for an arbitrary integer m . Since u m  u as
m   , y m  y  as m   , so that
 
  and is the positive
  t  y 2 d dt

y   u   y 
 
asymptotic expansion of equation (7). The theorem is proved.
■

REFERENCES
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advancing in a rectangular canal, and on a new type of long stationary
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[2] L. van Wijngaarden, “One-dimensional flow of liquids containing
small gas bubbles,” Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics, vol. 4, pp.
369-396, 1972.
[3] T. Kawahara, “Weak nonlinear magneto-acoustic waves in a cold
plasma in presence of effective electron-ion collisions,” Journal of the
Physical Society of Japan, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 1321-1329, 1970.
[4] J. Canosa, and J. Gazdag, “The Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers equation,”
Journal of Computational Physics, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 393-403, 1977.
[5] J. M. Burgers, “Correlation problems in a one-dimensional model of
turbulence. I.,” Proceedings of the Royal Netherlands Academy of
Science, vol. 53, pp. 247-260, 1950.
[6] A. Jeffrey, and T. Kakutani, “Weak nonlinear dispersive waves: A
discussion centered around the Korteweg-de Vries equation,” SIAM
Review, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 582-643, 1972.
[7] J.-J. Shu, “Exact N-envelope-soliton solutions of the Hirota equation,”
Optica Applicata, vol. 33, no. 2-3, pp. 539-546, 2003.

Jian-Jun SHU is a recipient of the British Institution

of Mechanical Engineers 1992 BFPA Prize for Young
Engineers. He is a member of the editorial board of the
journal of Mathematical Problems in Engineering. He
has published over 80 technical papers and presented
over 40 invited lectures/seminars. He is with Nanyang
Technological University, Singapore.

Author’s formal
photo