Group theoretic and similarity analysis of hyperbolic partial differential equations (Q1081758)

Similarity analysis for hyperbolic partial differential equations is performed via r-parameter groups of transformations. These transformations deal with three types of variables: dependent, independent and parameters. For quasilinear second order equations of the form \[ a_{11} \partial^ 2\phi /\partial x^ 2+2a_{12} \partial^ 2\phi /\partial x\partial t+a_{22} \partial^ 2\phi /\partial t^ 2+B=0 \] where \(a_{ij}\) and B are differentiable real functions of x,t,\(\phi\),\(\partial \phi /\partial x,\partial \phi /\partial t\), it is proved that conformal invariance under r-parameter groups of the equation implies conformal invariance of the characteristics equations under the same group of transformations. It is shown that the location of the wavefront can be determined in terms of similarity variables. Two applications arising in wave propagation in nonlinear nonhomogeneous rods are considered.