arXiv subjects

Gui-Qiang G. Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Gui-Qiang G. Chen.

83 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Vanishing Viscosity Solutions of the Compressible Euler Equations with Spherical Symmetry and Large Initial Data

We are concerned with spherically symmetric solutions of the Euler equations for multidimensional compressible fluids, which are motivated by many important physical situations. Various evidences indicate that spherically symmetric solutions of the compressible Euler equations may blow up near the origin at certain time under some circumstance. The central feature is the strengthening of waves as they move radially inward. A longstanding open, fundamental question is whether concentration could form at the origin. In this paper, we develop a method of vanishing viscosity and related estimate techniques for viscosity approximate solutions, and establish the convergence of the approximate solutions to a global finite-energy entropy solution of the compressible Euler equations with spherical symmetry and large initial data. This indicates that concentration does not form in the vanishing viscosity limit, even though the density may blow up at certain time. To achieve this, we first construct global smooth solutions of appropriate initial-boundary value problems for the Euler equations with designed viscosity terms, an approximate pressure function, and boundary conditions, and then we establish the strong convergence of the viscosity approximate solutions to a finite-energy entropy solutions of the Euler equations.

math.AP↗

arXiv2013

Shock Reflection-Diffraction, von Neumann's Conjectures and Nonlinear Equations of Mixed Type

Shock waves are fundamental in nature. One of the most fundamental problems in fluid mechanics is shock reflection-diffraction by wedges. The complexity of reflection-diffraction configurations was first reported by Ernst Mach in 1878. The problems remained dormant until the 1940s when John von Neumann, as well as other mathematical/experimental scientists, began extensive research into all aspects of shock reflection-diffraction phenomena. In this paper we start with shock reflection-diffraction phenomena and historic perspectives, their fundamental scientific issues and theoretical roles in the mathematical theory of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws. Then we present how the global shock reflection-diffraction problem can be formulated as a boundary value problem in an unbounded domain for nonlinear conservation laws of mixed hyperbolic-elliptic type, and describe the von Neumann conjectures: the sonic conjecture and the detachment conjecture. Finally we discuss some recent developments in solving the von Neumann conjectures and establishing a mathematical theory of shock reflection-diffraction, including the existence, regularity, and stability of global regular configurations of shock reflection-diffraction by wedges.

math.AP↗

arXiv2013

Entropy and Convexity for Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations: Introduction

Partial differential equations are ubiquitous in almost all applications of mathematics, where they provide a natural mathematical description of many phenomena involving change in physical, chemical, biological, and social processes. The concept of entropy originated in thermodynamics and statistical physics during the 19th century to describe the heat exchanges that occur in the thermal processes in a thermodynamic system, while the original notion of convexity is for sets and functions in mathematics. Since then, entropy and convexity have become two of the most important concepts in mathematics. In particular, nonlinear methods via entropy and convexity have been playing an increasingly important role in the analysis of nonlinear partial differential equations in recent decades. This opening article of the theme issue is intended to provide an introduction to entropy, convexity, and related nonlinear methods for the analysis of nonlinear partial differential equations. We also provide a brief discussion about the content and contributions of the papers that make up this theme issue.

math.AP↗

arXiv2013

Shock Diffraction by Convex Cornered Wedges for the Nonlinear Wave System

We are concerned with rigorous mathematical analysis of shock diffraction by two-dimensional convex cornered wedges in compressible fluid flow governed by the nonlinear wave system. This shock diffraction problem can be formulated as a boundary value problem for second-order nonlinear partial differential equations of mixed elliptic-hyperbolic type in an unbounded domain. It can be further reformulated as a free boundary problem for nonlinear degenerate elliptic equations of second order. We establish a first global theory of existence and regularity for this shock diffraction problem. In particular, we establish that the optimal regularity for the solution is $C^{0,1}$ across the degenerate sonic boundary. To achieve this, we develop several mathematical ideas and techniques, which are also useful for other related problems involving similar analytical difficulties.

math.AP↗

arXiv2012

Stability of Transonic Characteristic Discontinuities in Two-Dimensional Steady Compressible Euler Flows

For a two-dimensional steady supersonic Euler flow past a convex cornered wall with right angle, a characteristic discontinuity (vortex sheet and/or entropy wave) is generated, which separates the supersonic flow from the gas at rest (hence subsonic). We proved that such a transonic characteristic discontinuity is structurally stable under small perturbations of the upstream supersonic flow in $BV$. The existence of a weak entropy solution and Lipschitz continuous free boundary (i.e. characteristic discontinuity) is established. To achieve this, the problem is formulated as a free boundary problem for a nonstrictly hyperbolic system of conservation laws; and the free boundary problem is then solved by analyzing nonlinear wave interactions and employing the front tracking method.

math.AP↗

arXiv2012

Gas Dynamics Equations: Computation

Shock waves, vorticity waves, and entropy waves are fundamental discontinuity waves in nature and arise in supersonic or transonic gas flow, or from a very sudden release (explosion) of chemical, nuclear, electrical, radiation, or mechanical energy in a limited space. Tracking these discontinuities and their interactions, especially when and where new waves arise and interact in the motion of gases, is one of the main motivations for numerical computation for the gas dynamics equations. In this paper, we discuss some historic and recent developments, as well as mathematical challenges, in designing and formulating efficient numerical methods and algorithms to compute weak entropy solutions for the Euler equations for gas dynamics.

math.NA↗

arXiv2011

Local Uniqueness of Steady Spherical Transonic Shock-fronts for the Three-Dimensional Full Euler Equations

We establish the local uniqueness of steady transonic shock solutions with spherical symmetry for the three-dimensional full Euler equations. These transonic shock-fronts are important for understanding transonic shock phenomena in divergent nozzles. From mathematical point of view, we show the uniqueness of solutions of a free boundary problem for a multidimensional quasilinear system of mixed-composite elliptic--hyperbolic type. To this end, we develop a decomposition of the Euler system which works in a general Riemannian manifold, a method to study a Venttsel problem of nonclassical nonlocal elliptic operators, and an iteration mapping which possesses locally a unique fixed point. The approach reveals an intrinsic structure of the steady Euler system and subtle interactions of its elliptic and hyperbolic part.

math.AP↗

arXiv2011

On Nonlinear Stochastic Balance Laws

We are concerned with multidimensional stochastic balance laws. We identify a class of nonlinear balance laws for which uniform spatial $BV$ bounds for vanishing viscosity approximations can be achieved. Moreover, we establish temporal equicontinuity in $L^1$ of the approximations, uniformly in the viscosity coefficient. Using these estimates, we supply a multidimensional existence theory of stochastic entropy solutions. In addition, we establish an error estimate for the stochastic viscosity method, as well as an explicit estimate for the continuous dependence of stochastic entropy solutions on the flux and random source functions. Various further generalizations of the results are discussed.

math.AP↗

arXiv2011

Kolmogorov's Theory of Turbulence and Inviscid Limit of the Navier-Stokes Equations in $\R^3$

We are concerned with the inviscid limit of the Navier-Stokes equations to the Euler equations in $\R^3$. We first observe that a pathwise Kolmogorov hypothesis implies the uniform boundedness of the $α^{th}$-order fractional derivative of the velocity for some $α>0$ in the space variables in $L^2$, which is independent of the viscosity $μ>0$. Then it is shown that this key observation yields the $L^2$-equicontinuity in the time and the uniform bound in $L^q$, for some $q>2$, of the velocity independent of $μ>0$. These results lead to the strong convergence of solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations to a solution of the Euler equations in $\R^3$. We also consider passive scalars coupled to the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations and, in this case, find the weak-star convergence for the passive scalars with a limit in the form of a Young measure (pdf depending on space and time). Not only do we offer a framework for mathematical existence theories, but also we offer a framework for the interpretation of numerical solutions through the identification of a function space in which convergence should take place, with the bounds that are independent of $μ>0$, that is in the high Reynolds number limit.

math.AP↗

arXiv2010

Multidimensional Conservation Laws: Overview, Problems, and Perspective

Some of recent important developments are overviewed, several longstanding open problems are discussed, and a perspective is presented for the mathematical theory of multidimensional conservation laws. Some basic features and phenomena of multidimensional hyperbolic conservation laws are revealed, and some samples of multidimensional systems/models and related important problems are presented and analyzed with emphasis on the prototypes that have been solved or may be expected to be solved rigorously at least for some cases. In particular, multidimensional steady supersonic problems and transonic problems, shock reflection-diffraction problems, and related effective nonlinear approaches are analyzed. A theory of divergence-measure vector fields and related analytical frameworks for the analysis of entropy solutions are discussed.

math.AP↗

arXiv2010

On Degenerate Partial Differential Equations

Some of recent developments, including recent results, ideas, techniques, and approaches, in the study of degenerate partial differential equations are surveyed and analyzed. Several examples of nonlinear degenerate, even mixed, partial differential equations, are presented, which arise naturally in some longstanding, fundamental problems in fluid mechanics and differential geometry. The solution to these fundamental problems greatly requires a deep understanding of nonlinear degenerate partial differential equations. Our emphasis is on exploring and/or developing unified mathematical approaches, as well as new ideas and techniques. The potential approaches we have identified and/or developed through these examples include kinetic approaches, free boundary approaches, weak convergence approaches, and related nonlinear ideas and techniques. We remark that most of the important problems for nonlinear degenerate partial differential equations are truly challenging and still widely open, which require further new ideas, techniques, and approaches, and deserve our special attention and further efforts.

math.AP↗