Existence, uniqueness, and stability of generalized solutions of an initial-boundary value problem for a degenerating quasilinear parabolic equation (Q1380320)

The authors continue a study of a spatially one-dimensional mathematical model for the settling and consolidation of a flocculated suspension [see, \textit{R. Bürger, W. Wendland}, Entropy boundary and jump conditions in the theory of semidimentation with compression. Math. Methods Appl. Sci., to appear]. This model is formulated as the following initial-boundary value problem: \[ u_t+f_x(u,t)=a((u)u_x)_x,\quad (x,t)\in (0,1)\times (0,T); \] \[ u(x,0)=u_0(x),\;x\in[0,1];\quad f_{bk}(u) - a(u)u_x|_{x=0} = 0,\quad t\in (0,T];\;u(1,t) = u_1(t),\;t\in(0,T]. \] Here, \(f\) is the flux density function such that \(f(u,t) = q(t)u + f_{bk}(u)\), \(u\) denotes the volumetric solid concentration, \(q(t)\) is the volume-averaged velocity of the suspension, \(f_{bk}\) the Kynch bath flux density function. The diffusion coefficient \(a\) is assumed to be a continuously differentiable function of \(u\) with \(a(u) = 0\) for \(u\leq \phi_c\) and \(u\geq 1\), and \(a(u)>0\) for \(\phi_c< u< 1\). This equation degenerates into first order hyperbolic type if the concentration is less than a critical value \(\phi_c\). In this paper, the existence, stability, and uniqueness of generalized solutions of this initial-boundary value problem are proved. The existence of generalized solutions is shown by the vanishing viscosity method.