Finite volume schemes for the approximation via characteristics of linear convection equations with irregular data (Q657039)

The authors consider the problem of transport of non-negative Radon measures by a flow. The aim of this research is to study the convergence of an approximation of the Radon measures. The interpretation taken here is probabilistic in nature, and as such the set of trajectories is seen as the natural object to consider rather than the vector field of point velocities. At first the authors consider some finite volume schemes built via characteristics to the measure solution of a convection equation in the case of an irregular flow -- sufficient conditions are provided for this case in order to prove convergence to the continuous solution. These finite volume schemes are expressed using the minimal hypothesis on the flow only. For the second finite volume scheme, it is proven that the scheme converges to the continuous solution, as the space step tends to zero, whereas the ratio of the space step to the time step remains bounded below and above, under the assumption of uniform regularity of the mesh. This is obtained via an improved discrete Sobolev inequality and a sharp weak boundary variation estimate, including additional assumptions on the transport flow. Examples provided show the optimality of these assumptions.