Multiple steady states for characteristic initial value problems (Q1822588)

If a steady, isentropic flow in a dual-throat nozzle with equal throat areas is choked it can be either completely subsonic or supersonic depending on the initial state of the flow and the path taken to reach the steady state. To give a mathematical explanation of the observed behavior the time dependent, isentropic, quasi one-dimensional equations of gas dynamics and other model equations are considered under the constraint of characteristic boundary conditions. Analysis of the time evolution shows how different initial data may lead to different steady states and how seemingly anomalous behavior of the solution may be resolved. Numerical experimentation using time consistent explicit algorithms verifies the conclusions of the analysis. The use of implicit schemes with very large time steps leads to erroneous results.