Wave features of a class of reducible nonhomogeneous and nonautonomous models

Abstract

An approach is proposed in order to characterize 2 x 2 systerns of first order PDEs which can be reduced to homogeneous and autonomous form and, in the hyperbolic case, the link between the corresponding characteristic curves is pointed out. Furthermore attention is focused on a class of nonhomogeneous and nonautonomous models whose structure permits two opposite traveling simple wave-like pulses to emerge unaffected from the interaction. In the reduction process, "model constitutive laws" to governing systems of physical interest can be determined. That is illustrated by means of examples Dedicated to Alan Jeffrey on occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday.

Keywords:

• nonhomogeneous hyperbolic systems
• simple wave interaction
• constitutive equations

Additional information

Notes on contributors

C. Curró

D. Fusco