On modelling phase transitions by means of rate-type constitutive equations. Shock wave structure (Q1814118)

The author deals with the possibility to model phase transitions by using a rate-type viscoelastic constitutive equation of Maxwell type; piecewise linear constitutive equations for elastic and viscoelastic cases are used. Discontinuous elastic solutions of Goursat and Riemann problems, steady wave solutions, and numerical solutions are thus obtained. We mention that the viscoelastic model incorporates instabilities appropriate to describe phase transitions. The numerical method of characteristics which has been used may lead to numerical instabilities but the way to isolate them was also considered.