Global continuous Riemann solver for nonlinear elasticity (Q5929692)

The paper deals with a nonlinear wave equation in one space dimension which provides a simple isothermal model of phase transition for elastodynamics \(z_{tt}-[\sigma(z_x)]_x=0\), where \(w=z_t\) is displacement gradient, \(v=z_x\) is velocity of the material, and the stress-strain function \(\sigma:]-\infty,\infty[\to \mathbb{R}\) is a strictly decreasing function. The authors consider the linearly degenerate case with Riemann data. The lack of uniqueness of the solution of Riemann problem is treated by the introduction of a so-called kinetic relation, used to narrow the set of admissible subsonic phase transitions. Using either explicit computations or geometric arguments, the authors study the Riemann problem for any data lying in hyperbolic region. Sufficient conditions for uniqueness, globality and continuous dependence on initial data in the \(L^1_{\text{loc}}\) are given.