Traveling waves, Riemann problems and computations of a model of the dynamics of liquid/vapor phase transitions (Q1277063)

We discuss a model for liquid/vapor phase transitions in a shock tube. Computations for the one-dimensional isothermal case are carried out to show that this model exhibits one-dimensional wave patterns observed in actual experiments. The existence of traveling waves under two different scalings are studied. For the first scaling where the diffusion of different phases is very small relative to typical reaction time for the growth of phases while the viscosity is comparable to the reaction time, we obtain complete phase diagrams of traveling waves. For the second scaling, where viscosity, typical reaction time, and diffusion of different phases are comparable, we prove the existence of traveling wave profiles of liquefaction and evaporation shocks when shock speeds are larger than some numbers. Then we examine Riemann problems with shocks involving phase changes under the second scaling. Solutions of Riemann problems with wave patterns observed in actual experiments are presented, and nonuniqueness of solutions for some Riemann problems is discussed. \(\copyright\) Academic Press.