Asymptotically compatible entropy-consistent discretization for a class of nonlocal conservation laws

Abstract

We consider a class of nonlocal conservation laws modeling traffic flows, given by $ \partial_t \rho_\varepsilon + \partial_x(V(\rho_\varepsilon \ast \gamma_\varepsilon) \rho_\varepsilon) = 0 $ with a suitable convex kernel $ \gamma_\varepsilon $, and its Godunov-type numerical discretization. We prove that, as the nonlocal parameter $ \varepsilon $ and mesh size $ h $ tend to zero simultaneously, the discrete approximation $ W_{\varepsilon,h} $ of $ W_\varepsilon := \rho_\varepsilon \ast \gamma_\varepsilon $ converges to the entropy solution of the (local) scalar conservation law $ \partial_t \rho + \partial_x(V(\rho) \rho) = 0 $, with an explicit convergence rate estimate of order $ \varepsilon+h+\sqrt{\varepsilon\, t}+\sqrt{h\,t} $. In particular, with an exponential kernel, we establish the same convergence result for the discrete approximation $ \rho_{\varepsilon,h} $ of $ \rho_\varepsilon $, along with an $ \mathrm{L}^1 $-contraction property for $ W_\varepsilon $. The key ingredients in proving these results are uniform $ \mathrm{L}^\infty $- and $\mathrm{TV}$-estimates that ensure compactness of approximate solutions, and discrete entropy inequalities that ensure the entropy admissibility of the limit solution.