Convergence of the relaxed compressible Navier-Stokes equations to the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations (Q6160904)

The relaxed Navier-Stokes equations of the form \[ \begin{split} \partial_t\rho + \operatorname{div}(\rho u) & = 0,\\ \partial_t(\rho u) + \operatorname{div}(\rho u\otimes u) + \nabla p(\varrho) & = \operatorname{div}S_1 +\nabla S_2,\\ \tau_1(\partial_t S_1 + u\cdot \nabla S_1) + S_1 &= \mu\left(\nabla u + (\nabla u)^\top - \frac 23 \operatorname{div} u I_3\right),\\ \tau_2(\partial_t S_2 + u\cdot \nabla S_2) + S_2 & = \lambda \operatorname{div}u \end{split} \] are considered in the whole space \(\mathbb R^3\). The pressure is given as \(p(\varrho) = a\varrho^\gamma\) for some \(\gamma \in (1,\infty)\) and \(a\in (0,\infty)\). Recall that the unknowns are \(\varrho\), \(u\), \(S_1\) and \(S_2\) and they represent (respectively) the density, velocity, \(3\times3\) traceless symmetric stress tensor \(S_4\) and a scalar variable \(S_2\). The positive constants \(T_1\) and \(T_2\) are the shear relaxation time and the compressional relacation time, respectively. Setting the parameters \(\tau_1\) and \(\tau_2\) equal to zero results in the usual Navier-Stokes system that describes the flow of a Newtonian fluid. The main result of this system is a low-Mach number limit. In particular, the authors deal with setting \(\tau_1 = \varepsilon\), \(\tau_2 = \varepsilon\) and \(a\sim \frac{1}{\varepsilon^2}\), \(\mu = \mu_\varepsilon \to 1\), \(\lambda = \lambda_\varepsilon \to 1\). They prove that the system admits a unique strong solution on a short time interval and these solutions tend to the solution of the incompressible system \[ \begin{split} \partial_t w + (w\cdot \nabla w)w + \nabla \pi & = \Delta w,\\ \operatorname{div} w & = 0 \end{split} \] whenever \(\varepsilon \to 0\).