Acta Mathematica Scientia 2011,31B(6):23132322 http://actams.wipm.ac.

cn

THE RIEMANN PROBLEM FOR THE NONLINEAR DEGENERATE WAVE EQUATIONS

Dedicated to Professor Peter D. Lax on the occasion of his 85th birthday Liu Xiaomin (

1. Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China 2. Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China E-mail: semannliulxm@163.com; zhenwang@wipm.ac.cn

)1,2

Wang Zhen (

)1

Abstract In this paper we consider the Riemann problem for the nonlinear degenerate wave equations. This problem has been studied by Sun and Sheng, however the so-called degenerate shock solutions did not satisfy the R-H condition. In the present paper, the Riemann solutions of twelve regions in the v u plane are completely constructed by the Liu-entropy condition. Our Riemann solutions are very dierent to that one obtained by Sun and Sheng in some regions. Key words degenerate wave equations; Riemann problems; not strictly hyperbolic; Liuentropy condition 2000 MR Subject Classication 35L65; 35L80; 35L45

1
is,

Introduction
This paper studies the Riemann problem for the nonlinear degenerate wave equations, that v u = 0, t x ut (|v|1 v)x = 0,

(1.1)

with the initial data

where > 1 is a constant, v and u denote the strain and the velocity respectively, and |v|1 v is the stress function. The system (1.1) arises in the theory of elasticity by ignoring the eect of viscosity and is related to the second-order partial dierential equation (see [4]). Since the stress function (v) = |v|1 v is nonconvex in the whole v u plane and the system (1.1) is not strictly
Received

(v , u ), x > 0, l l (v, u)(x, 0) = (vr , ur ), x < 0,

(1.2)

October 18, 2011. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11171340).

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hyperbolic, the Riemann problem is not as easy as that for the hyperbolic conservation laws which has been well studied (see [1, 8]). To overcome this dicult, Sun and Sheng in [3] introduced a degenerate shock of the system (1.1), it is discontinuous at x = 0 and satises vl = vr = 0 and [u] = 0 on both sides. Unfortunately, it doesnt satisfy the R-H condition. Actually, research for the Riemann problem with nonconvex conditions has been started long ago (see [2]), and to the Riemann problem for the general systems of conservation laws, Liu proposed an extended entropy condition (called Liu-entropy condition) which is equivalent to Laxs shock inequalities when the system is genuinely nonlinear, and a uniqueness theorem is proved subject to the Liu-condition (see [57]). In this paper, we will construct the Riemann solutions for (1.1) perfectly only using the elementary waves which are the rarefaction waves and the shock waves under the Liu-entropy condition. The organization of this paper is as follows: In Section 2, we present the elementary waves, and in Section 3, we construct all the solutions for the Riemann problem based on a variety of dierent relative positions to the left and right states.

The Elementary Waves

According to the basic process of solving the Riemann problem, we can compute the equations of the elementary waves as follows. Let U = (v, u)T , F (U ) = (u, |v|1v)T , we can rewrite (1.1) as Ut + F (U )x = 0. We compute the Jacobian matrix, dF = 0 1 , |v|1 . (2.2) (2.1)

|v|1 0

then we get the two eigenvalues of (1.1), they are 1 = |v|1 , 2 =

The system is not is not strictly hyperbolic when v = 0, and the corresponding right eigenvectors are r1 = (1, |v|1 )T , r2 = (1, |v|1 )T . (2.3)

To continue, the corresponding Riemann invariants are

v v

1 = u
0

|s|1 ds,

2 = u +
0

|s|1 ds.

(2.4)

Since the Riemann invariants are constant on the corresponding rarefaction wave curves, we can calculate the equations of the rarefaction wave curves as follows: First, the equation of the 1-rarefaction wave curve is given by
v vl v

R1 : u
0

|s|1 ds = ul
0

|s|1 ds u = ul +
vl

|s|1 ds, |v| < |vl |. (2.5)

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The requirement 1 (v) > 1 (vl ) gives |v| < |vl |, then exactly, we can write R1 :
v

|v|1 > |vl |1 , and since > 1, we have

R1 : u = ul +
vl

|s|1 ds, 0 v < vl or vl < v 0. du = dv

(2.6)

We calculate and

|v|1 0,

Next, we can obtain the equation of the 2-rarefaction wave curve similarly,
v

1 d2 u 2 ( 1) 3 > 0, 0 < v < vl , = sign(v) |v| 2 < 0, vl < v < 0. dv 2 2

vl

R2 : u = ul here and

|s|1 ds, 0 < vl < v or v < vl < 0 or v R, vl = 0, du = dv

(2.7)

|v|1 < 0,

Now, we consider the shock waves which must satisfy the R-H relation s[v] [u] = 0, s[u] [|v|1 v] = 0. Form (2.8), we can compute easily s2 = [|v|1 v] . [v]
[|v|1 v] , [v]

1 d2 u 2 ( 1) 3 < 0, 0 < vl < v, = sign(v) |v| 2 > 0, v < vl < 0. dv 2 2 (2.8)

(2.9) and from the rst equation in (2.8),

For the 1-shock wave, since s < 0, then s1 = we get the equation of the 1-shock wave S1 : and the Liu-entropy condition implies here is between v and vl . Or equivalent to for all between v and vl .

u ul = [v]

[|v|1 v] , [v]

(2.10)

|v|1 v |vl |1 vl v vl

||1 |vl |1 vl , vl

|v|1 v |vl |1 vl ||1 |vl |1 vl v vl vl

(2.11)

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With a similar analysis, we can get the 2-shock curve S2 : and v must satisfy |v|1 v |vl |1 vl ||1 |vl |1 vl . v vl vl (2.13) u ul = [v] [|v|1 v] , [v] (2.12)

Also is between v and vl . To (2.11) and (2.13), we cant get the range of v by the exact math expression generally. But, using the image of f (v) = |v|1 v, we obtain the range of v visually as follows.

Fig.1

First, we consider the condition vl > 0, referring to Figure 1, f (v) = ||1 , then f () = ||1 . Let A be a point on the curve f = f () with the coordinate (l , |l |1 l ). Then we dene vl and vl satisfying the following equations respectively, they are

and

|vl |1 vl |vl |1 vl = |vl |1 , vl vl |vl |1 vl |vl |1 vl = |vl |1 . vl vl

In fact, vl and vl correspond to the point B and point C in the Figure 1. Then, using the Liu-entropy condition, we obtain v > vl or v vl if vl > 0, if vl < 0, if vl = 0. (2.14)

S1 :

u ul = [v]

Then we calculate ordinarily,

[|v|1 v] v < vl or v vl [v] vR S1 : du > 0, dv

and S1 :

d2 u > 0, v > vl , vl > 0 or v vl , vl < 0 or v > 0, vl = 0, dv 2 < 0, v vl , vl > 0 or v < vl , vl < 0 or v < 0, vl = 0.

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And the expression of 2-shock curves are S2 : Furthermore, u ul = [v] [|v|1 v] vl v < vl , vl < v vl , [v] du < 0, dv if vl > 0, if vl < 0. (2.15)

S2 : and S2 :

Then we can put all the rarefaction and shock curves together in the v u plane and get the picture in Figure 2.

d2 u < 0, vl v < vl , vl > 0, dv 2 > 0, vl < v vl , vl < 0.

Fig.2

Here, point A denote the left state, If we use S1 (P ) to denote the 1-shock curve with point P being the left state, similarly, we dene R1 (P ) and S2 (P ). Then point B denote the beginning point of the other branch of S1 (A), point C denote the end point of S2 (A) and point D exactly on the u-axis denote the end point of R1 (A). In fact, as long as we get the gure 2, we will construct the Riemann solutions easily in the v u plane.

The Construction of the Riemann Solutions for the System (1.1)

In this section, we will construct all the solutions for the Riemann problem of (1.1)(1.2) based on a variety of dierent relative positions of Ul and Ur mainly through the gure 2 in the v u plane. Our discussion will be divided into three cases, namely, vl > 0, vl < 0 and vl = 0, where the situation vl < 0 is very similar to vl > 0, and the situation vl = 0 is relatively more simple. Therefore, we will mainly consider the case vl > 0. Case A vl > 0. We will consider this situation in the v u plane. Our goal is using the curves in Figure 2 to divide the entire plane: rst of all, we draw all the wave curves for Ul as the left state, refer to the right diagram in Figure 2, then, in order to divide the plane, according to the denition of each wave curve, we continue to draw the 2-wave curves for those marked points (point B, C and D) as the left states, nally, those virtual curves (, , , and ) complete the segmentation of the plane as shown in Figure 3.

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Fig.3

As showing in Figure 3, point A denote the initial left state (l , ul ), let P be a point on the curve S1 (A)(this curve has two branches), we can draw the curve S2 (P ) and the curve S2 (P ) is bounded as discussed above, then the set of the end points of S2 (P ) constitute the virtual curve and when P is taken over all the points on the curve S1 (A). If we suppose P be a point on the curve R1 (A), similarly, we get the virtual curve . We dene a mapping :P (P ), here P is a point, (P ) denote the beginning point of the left branch S1 (P ). For example, to point A, the beginning point of the left branch S1 (A) is point B, then (A) = B. And the virtual curve is formed by all the (P ) when P is taken over all the points on the curve R1 (A). Similarly the set of the end points of S2 (P ) constitute the virtual curve , when P is taken over all the points on the virtual curve . If the left state or the point A is xed, then all the curves and the virtual curves in Figure 3 will be xed, as a result, we divide the whole v u plane into twelve disjoint regions as shown in Figure 3 and we can construct the exact solutions when Ur is in the above dierent region as follows. When Ur I, II, IV, VII, VIII, X, the constructed Riemann solutions will be constituted by two fundamental waves. That is, Case A1 when Ur I, the Riemann solution is
1 2 Ul Um Ur ,

here Um denote the intermediate state on the right S1 , and

1 2 Ul Um Ur

denote Um is connected to Ul by a 1-shock on the right, Ur is connected to Um by a 2-rarefaction wave. The meaning of these symbols appeared below express similar. S1 S2 Case A2 when Ur II, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . R1 S2 Case A4 when Ur IV , the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . S1 R2 Case A7 when Ur VII, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . S1 S2 Case A8 when Ur VIII, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur .

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1 2 Case A10 when Ur X, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . We restore the Riemann solutions to the x t plane with case A1 as an example, that is

When Ur III, according to the denition of the virtual curve , if Um is a point on the curve , then 2 = 2 (Um ), here 2 means the speed of 2-shock curve with Um being the right state, so we can continue the 2-rarefaction wave curve as Um be the left state to link Ur and the constructed Riemann solution will be reasonable since we can restore the Riemann solutions to the x t plane perfectly, that is Case A3 when Ur III, the Riemann solution is
2 1 Ul Um Um Ur ,

S2

with 2 =2 (Um )

here 2 denote the speed of S2 , Um denote the intermediate state on , similarly appeared below denote the speed of corresponding shocks. And the Riemann solution restored to the x t plane is

When Ur V, XII, it is similar to the case Ur III, then Case A5 when Ur V , the Riemann solution is
1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S2

with 2 =2 (Um )

Case A12

when Ur XII, the Riemann solution is

2 1 Ul Um Um Ur .

S2

with 2 =2 (Um )

When Ur is on the curve , we can construct the Riemann solution:

1 Ul Um Ur ,

S1

with 1 =1 (Um )

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here Um denote the intermediate state on the R1 satisfying (Um ) = Ur . Then when Ur VI, IX, XI, the Riemann solutions can be constructed as follows: Case A6 when Ur VI, the Riemann solution is
1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S1

with 1 =1 (Um )

Case A9

when Ur IX, the Riemann solution is

1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S1

with 1 =1 (Um )

Case A11

when Ur XI, the Riemann solution is

1 2 Ul Um Um U m Ur .

S1

S2

with 1 =1 (Um )

with 2 =2 (U m )

Here we give the restored solutions in the x t plane to the case A6

and the case A11.

To this, we have solved the case vl > 0. Case B vl < 0. This situation is very similar to the case vl > 0. We just draw the v u plane partition map when vl < 0 as shown in Figure 4. Comparing Figure 3 with Figure 4, we can see the situation vl > 0 and the situation vl < 0 is almost symmetrical, so analogous to the regional division in Figure 3, we divide the v u plane in Figure 4 into twelve corresponding regions, and the Riemann solutions in various regions are similar to the situation vl > 0. That is S1 R2 Case B1 when Ur I, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . S1 S2 Case B2 when Ur II, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur .

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Fig.4

Case B3

when Ur III, the Riemann solution is

1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S2

with 2 =2 (Um )

Case B4 Case B5

1 2 when Ur IV , the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . when Ur V , the Riemann solution is

1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S2

with 2 =2 (Um )

Case B6

when Ur VI, the Riemann solution is

1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S1

with 1 =1 (Um )

Case B7 Case B8 Case B9

1 2 when Ur VII, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . S1 S2 when Ur VIII, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . when Ur IX, the Riemann solution is 1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S1

with 1 =1 (Um )

1 2 Case B10 when Ur X, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . Case B11 when Ur XI, the Riemann solution is

2 1 Ul Um Um U m Ur .

S1

S2

with 1 =1 (Um )

with 2 =2 (U m )

Case B12 when Ur XII, the Riemann solution is

1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S2

with 2 =2 (Um )

Case C vl = 0. This situation is simpler to the two cases above. In the same way, we consider it in the v u plane, and we draw the corresponding wave curves as shown in the following gure.

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Fig.5

We divide the whole plane into six disjoint regions, and the Riemann solutions in these regions are as follows: S1 R2 Case C1 when Ur I, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . S1 S2 Case C2 when Ur II, the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . Case C3 when Ur III, the Riemann solution is
2 1 Ul Um Um Ur .

S2

with 2 =2 (Um )

Case C4 Case C5 Case C6

1 2 when Ur IV , the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . S1 S2 when Ur V , the Riemann solution is Ul Um Ur . when Ur VI, the Riemann solution is

1 2 Ul Um Um Ur .

S2

with 2 =2 (Um )

So far, we have completed the construction of solutions to the Riemann problem (1.1) and (1.2). References
[1] Smoller J A. Shock Waves and Reaction-Diusion Equations. 2nd ed. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1994 [2] Wendro B. The Riemann problem for materials with nonconvex equations state I. isentropic ow. J Math Anal Appl, 1972, 38: 454466 [3] Sun W H, Sheng W C. The Riemann problem for nonlinear degenerate wave equations. Appl Math Mech -Engl Ed, 2010, 31(6): 665674 [4] Lu Y G. Nonlinearly degenerate wave equation vtt = c(|v|s1 v)xx . Rev Acad Colomb Cienc, 2007, 119(31): 275283 [5] Liu T P. The Riemann problem for general 22 conservation laws. Trans Amer Math Soc, 1974, 199: 89112 [6] Liu T P. The Riemann problem for general systems of hyperbolic conservation laws. J Di Eqs, 1975, 18: 218234 [7] Liu T P. Admissible solutions of hyperbolic conservation laws. Mem Amer Math Soc, 1981, 30 [8] Lax P D. Hyperbolic Systems of Conservation Laws and the Mathematical Theory of Shock Waves. Philadelphia: SIAM, 1973