Existence of weak solutions to a class of nonstrictly hyperbolic conservation laws with non-interacting waves. (Q701284)

The systems considered are of (generalized) Keyfitz-Kranzer type \[ \partial_t u\,+\,\partial_x (\Theta(u)\,u)\,=\,0\,, \] where \(\Theta\) is a strictly convex function of \(u\). They are prototypes of nonstrictly hyperbolic conservation laws, i.e. they have a multiple eigenvalue of constant multiplicity (namely, \(\Theta(u)\), which is of multiplicity \((n-1)\) if \(u\in \mathbb{R}^n\backslash\{0\}\)). One may also note that these systems are ``almost'' of Temple type, in that they admit \((n-1)\) independent (strong) Riemann invariants whose level sets are planar; \(n\)-th Riemann invariant is \(\Theta\) itself, whose level sets are not planar by assumption. For possibly large initial data but away from the so-called umbilic point \(u=0\) (where the Jacobian matrix of the flux degenerates to \(\Theta(0)\,I_n\)), and more precisely initial data taking values in an open half-space, weak solutions are obtained by means of Glimm's scheme approximation.