Incomplete blowup of solutions of quasilinear hyperbolic balance laws (Q1817423)

The authors investigate the possibility of extending positive entropy solutions of a single quasilinear equation \(u_t+f(u)_x=g(u)\), beyond the time when they become infinite (blow-up). The extended solution is defined for \(x<\chi(t)\), where the solution becomes infinite precisely on the blow-up curve \(x=\chi(t)\). An appropriate notion of `admissible' solution is defined, so that this extended solution is unique, and is the limit of solutions of the system where \(g\) is replaced by a truncated function with linear growth. The main technical tools are (1) comparison theorems and (2) the systematic use of Dafermos' generalized characteristics. The results apply in particular if \(f\) is strictly convex with \(f(0)=f'(0)=0\), \(f'\) tends to infinity for \(u\) large and \(g\) of class \(C^2\) with \(g(0)=0\) and positive for \(u>0\). The data are nonnegative, bounded and of bounded variation. This brings further confirmation to the idea that an equation does not cease to be valid after the solution has become infinite at some point of its domain.