Search

We prove finite-time vorticity blowup for smooth solutions of the 2D compressible Euler equations with smooth, localized, and non-vacuous initial data. The vorticity blowup occurs at the time of the first singularity, and is accompanied by an axisymmetric implosion in which the swirl velocity enjoys full stability, as opposed to finite co-dimension stability.

We construct a fundamental piece of the boundary of the maximal globally hyperbolic development (MGHD) of Cauchy data for the multi-dimensional compressible Euler equations, which is necessary for the local shock development problem. For an open set of compressive and generic $H^7$ initial data, we construct unique $H^7$ solutions to the Euler equations in the maximal spacetime region below a given time-slice, beyond the time of the first singularity; at any point in this spacetime, the solution can be smoothly and uniquely computed by tracing both the fast and slow acoustic characteristic surfaces backward-in-time, until reaching the Cauchy data prescribed along the initial time-slice. The future temporal boundary of this spacetime region is a singular hypersurface, containing the union of three sets: first, a co-dimension-$2$ surface of ``first singularities'' called the pre-shock; second, a downstream hypersurface called the singular set emanating from the pre-shock, on which the Euler solution experiences a continuum of gradient catastrophes; third, an upstream hypersurface consisting of a Cauchy horizon emanating from the pre-shock, which the Euler solution cannot reach. We develop a new geometric framework for the description of the acoustic characteristic surfaces which is based on the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) framework, and combine this with a new type of differentiated Riemann variables which are linear combinations of gradients of velocity, sound speed, and the curvature of the fast acoustic characteristic surfaces. With these new variables, we establish uniform $H^7$ Sobolev bounds for solutions to the Euler equations without derivative loss and with optimal regularity., Comment: 218 pages, 20 figures, minor edits

From an open set of initial data, we construct a family of classical solutions to the 1D nonisentropic compressible Euler equations which form $C^{0,\nu}$ cusps as a first singularity, for any $\nu \in [1/2,1)$. For this range of $\nu$, this is the first result demonstrating the stable formation of such $C^{0,\nu}$ cusp-type singularities, also known as pre-shocks. The proof uses a new formulation of the differentiated Euler equations along the fast acoustic characteristic, and relies on a novel set of $L^p$ energy estimates for all $1 < p < \infty$, which may be of independent interest.

We provide a detailed analysis of the shock formation process for the non-isentropic 2d Euler equations in azimuthal symmetry. We prove that from an open set of smooth and generic initial data, solutions of Euler form a first singularity or gradient blow-up or shock. This first singularity is termed a H\"{o}lder $C^{\frac{1}{3}}$ pre-shock, and our analysis provides the first detailed description of this cusp solution. The novelty of this work relative to [Buckmaster-Drivas-Shkoller-Vicol, 2022] is that we herein consider a much larger class of initial data, allow for a non-constant initial entropy, allow for a non-trivial sub-dominant Riemann variable, and introduce a host of new identities to avoid apparent derivative loss due to entropy gradients. The method of proof is also new and robust, exploring the transversality of the three different characteristic families to transform space derivatives into time derivatives. Our main result provides a fractional series expansion of the Euler solution about the pre-shock, whose coefficients are computed from the initial data.

We develop a fast-running smooth adaptive meshing (SAM) algorithm for dynamic curvilinear mesh generation, which is based on a fast solution strategy of the time-dependent Monge-Amp\`{e}re (MA) equation, $\det \nabla \psi(x,t) = \mathsf{G} \circ\psi (x,t)$. The novelty of our approach is a new so-called perturbation formulation of MA, which constructs the solution map $\psi$ via composition of a sequence of near-identity deformations of a reference mesh. Then, we formulate a new version of the deformation method that results in a simple, fast, and high-order accurate numerical scheme and a dynamic SAM algorithm that is of optimal complexity when applied to time-dependent mesh generation for solutions to hyperbolic systems such as the Euler equations of gas dynamics. We perform a series of challenging 2$D$ and 3$D$ mesh generation experiments for grids with large deformations, and demonstrate that SAM is able to produce smooth meshes comparable to state-of-the-art solvers, while running approximately 200 times faster. The SAM algorithm is then coupled to a simple Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) scheme for 2$D$ gas dynamics. Specifically, we implement the $C$-method and develop a new ALE interface tracking algorithm for contact discontinuities. We perform numerical experiments for both the Noh implosion problem as well as a classical Rayleigh-Taylor instability problem. Results confirm that low-resolution simulations using our SAM-ALE algorithm compare favorably with high-resolution uniform mesh runs., Comment: 50 pages, 19 figures. Updated with new version of algorithm

We derive interface models for 3D Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI), making use of a novel asymptotic expansion in the non-locality of the fluid flow. These interface models are derived for the purpose of studying universal features associated to RTI such as the Froude number in single-mode RTI, the predicted quadratic growth of the interface amplitude under multi-mode random perturbations, the optimal (viscous) mixing rates induced by the RTI and the self-similarity of horizontally averaged density profiles, and the remarkable stabilization of the mixing layer growth rate which arises for the three-fluid two-interface heavy-light-heavy configuration, in which the addition of a third fluid bulk slows the growth of the mixing layer to a linear rate. Our interface models can capture the formation of small-scale structures induced by severe interface roll-up, reproduce experimental data in a number of different regimes, and study the effects of multiple interface interactions even as the interface separation distance becomes exceedingly small. Compared to traditional numerical schemes used to study such phenomena, our models provide a computational speed-up of at least two orders of magnitude., Comment: 37 pages, 22 figures. Exposition updated and new numerical experiments showing universal features of RT instability included. Interface model generalized to allow for multiple fluid interfaces. To appear in the Journal of Fluid Mechanics

A fundamental question in fluid dynamics concerns the formation of discontinuous shock waves from smooth initial data. We prove that from smooth initial data, smooth solutions to the 2d Euler equations in azimuthal symmetry form a first singularity, the so-called $C^{\frac{1}{3}} $ pre-shock. The solution in the vicinity of this pre-shock is shown to have a fractional series expansion with coefficients computed from the data. Using this precise description of the pre-shock, we prove that a discontinuous shock instantaneously develops after the pre-shock. This regular shock solution is shown to be unique in a class of entropy solutions with azimuthal symmetry and regularity determined by the pre-shock expansion. Simultaneous to the development of the shock front, two other characteristic surfaces of cusp-type singularities emerge from the pre-shock. These surfaces have been termed weak discontinuities by Landau & Lifschitz [Chapter IX, \S 96], who conjectured some type of singular behavior of derivatives along such surfaces. We prove that along the slowest surface, all fluid variables except the entropy have $C^{1, {\frac{1}{2}} }$ one-sided cusps from the shock side, and that the normal velocity is decreasing in the direction of its motion; we thus term this surface a weak rarefaction wave. Along the surface moving with the fluid velocity, density and entropy form $C^{1, {\frac{1}{2}} }$ one-sided cusps while the pressure and normal velocity remain $C^2$; as such, we term this surface a weak contact discontinuity., Comment: 150 pages, 15 figures, typos corrected

We analyze the shock formation process for the 3d non-isentropic Euler equations with the ideal gas law, in which sounds waves interact with entropy waves to produce vorticity. Building on our theory for isentropic flows in [3,4], we give a constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial data. Specifically, we prove that there exist smooth solutions to the non-isentropic Euler equations which form a generic stable shock with explicitly computable blowup time, location, and direction. This is achieved by establishing the asymptotic stability of a generic shock profile in modulated self-similar variables, controlling the interaction of wave families via: (i) pointwise bounds along Lagrangian trajectories, (ii) geometric vorticity structure, and (iii) high-order energy estimates in Sobolev spaces., Comment: 87 Pages, this paper builds on methods developed in arXiv:1912.04429

We consider the 3D isentropic compressible Euler equations with the ideal gas law. We provide a constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial datum of finite energy, with no vacuum regions, with nontrivial vorticity present at the shock, and under no symmetry assumptions. We prove that for an open set of Sobolev-class initial data which are a small $L^ \infty $ perturbation of a constant state, there exist smooth solutions to the Euler equations which form a generic stable shock in finite time. The blow up time and location can be explicitly computed, and solutions at the blow up time are smooth except for a single point, where they are of cusp-type with H\"{o}lder $C^ {\frac{1}{3}}$ regularity. Our proof is based on the use of modulated self-similar variables that are used to enforce a number of constraints on the blow up profile, necessary to establish the stability in self-similar variables of the generic shock profile., Comment: 94 pages, 1 figure, minor typos corrected, description of asymptotic profile added

We consider the 2D isentropic compressible Euler equations, with pressure law $p(\rho) = (\sfrac{1}{\gamma}) \rho^\gamma$, with $\gamma >1$. We provide an elementary constructive proof of shock formation from smooth initial datum of finite energy, with no vacuum regions, and with {nontrivial vorticity}. We prove that for initial data which has minimum slope $- {\sfrac{1}{ \eps}}$, for $ \eps>0$ taken sufficiently small relative to the $\OO(1)$ amplitude, there exist smooth solutions to the Euler equations which form a shock in time $\OO(\eps)$. The blowup time and location can be explicitly computed and solutions at the blowup time are of cusp-type, with H\"{o}lder $C^ {\sfrac{1}{3}}$ regularity. Our objective is the construction of solutions with inherent $\OO(1)$ vorticity at the shock. As such, rather than perturbing from an irrotational regime, we instead construct solutions with dynamics dominated by purely azimuthal wave motion. We consider homogenous solutions to the Euler equations and use Riemann-type variables to obtain a system of forced transport equations. Using a transformation to modulated self-similar variables and pointwise estimates for the ensuing system of transport equations, we show the global stability, in self-similar time, of a smooth blowup profile., Comment: 39 Pages

We develop a novel multiscale model of interface motion for the Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) and Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) for two-dimensional, inviscid, compressible flows with vorticity, which yields a fast-running numerical algorithm that produces both qualitatively and quantitatively similar results to a resolved gas dynamics code, while running approximately two orders of magnitude (in time) faster. Our multiscale model is founded upon a new compressible-incompressible decomposition of the velocity field $u=v+w$. The incompressible component $w$ of the velocity is also irrotational and is solved using a new asymptotic model of the Birkhoff-Rott singular integral formulation of the incompressible Euler equations, which reduces the problem to one spatial dimension. This asymptotic model, called the higher-order $z$-model, is derived using small nonlocality as the asymptotic parameter, allows for interface turn-over and roll-up, and yields a significant simplification for the equation describing the evolution of the amplitude of vorticity. This incompressible component $w$ of the velocity controls the small scale structures of the interface and can be solved efficiently on fine grids. Meanwhile, the compressible component of the velocity $v$ remains continuous near contact discontinuities and can be computed on relatively coarse grids, while receiving subgrid scale information from $w$. We first validate the incompressible higher-order $z$-model by comparison with classical RTI experiments as well as full point vortex simulations. We then consider both the RTI and the RMI problems for our multiscale model of compressible flow with vorticity, and show excellent agreement with our high-resolution gas dynamics solutions., Comment: 63 pages, 34 figures, both mesh-refinement studies and algorithm comparisons have been added, to appear in J. Comp, Phys

The affine motion of two-dimensional (2d) incompressible fluids surrounded by vacuum can be reduced to a completely integrable and globally solvable Hamiltonian system of ordinary differential equations for the deformation gradient in ${\rm SL}(2,{\mathbb R})$. In the case of perfect fluids, the motion is given by geodesic flow in ${\rm SL}(2,{\mathbb R})$ with the Euclidean metric, while for magnetically conducting fluids (MHD), the motion is governed by a harmonic oscillator in ${\rm SL}(2,{\mathbb R})$. A complete classification of the dynamics is given including rigid motions, rotating eddies with stable and unstable manifolds, and solutions with vanishing pressure. For perfect fluids, the displacement generically becomes unbounded, as $t\to\pm\infty$. For MHD, solutions are bounded and generically quasi-periodic and recurrent., Comment: 60 pages, 7 figures

We develop a rigorous asymptotic derivation for two mathematical models of water waves that capture the full nonlinearity of the Euler equations up to quadratic and cubic interactions, respectively. Specifically, letting epsilon denote an asymptotic parameter denoting the steepness of the water wave, we use a Stokes expansion in epsilon to derive a set of linear recursion relations for the tangential component of velocity, the stream function, and the water wave parameterization. The solution of the water waves system is obtained as an infinite sum of solutions to linear problems at each epsilon^k level, and truncation of this series leads to our two asymptotic models, that we call the quadratic and cubic h-models. Using the growth rate of the Catalan numbers (from number theory), we prove well-posedness of the h-models in spaces of analytic functions, and prove error bounds for solutions of the h-models compared against solutions of the water waves system. We also show that the Craig-Sulem models of water waves can be obtained from our asymptotic procedure and that their WW2 model is well-posed in our functional framework. We then develop a novel numerical algorithm to solve the quadratic and cubic h-models as well as the full water waves system. For three very different examples, we show that the agreement between the model equations and the water waves solution is excellent, even when the wave steepness is quite large. We also present a numerical example of corner formation for water waves., Comment: 56 Pages, 4 Figures

In this first part of two papers, we extend the C-method developed in [40] for adding localized, space-time smooth artificial viscosity to nonlinear systems of conservation laws that propagate shock waves, rarefaction waves, and contact discontinuities in one space dimension. For gas dynamics, the C-method couples the Euler equations to a scalar reaction-diffusion equation, whose solution $C$ serves as a space-time smooth artificial viscosity indicator. The purpose of this paper is the development of a high-order numerical algorithm for shock-wall collision and bounce-back. Specifically, we generalize the original C-method by adding a new collision indicator, which naturally activates during shock-wall collision. Additionally, we implement a new high-frequency wavelet-based noise detector together with an efficient and localized noise removal algorithm. To test the methodology, we use a highly simplified WENO-based discretization scheme. We show that our scheme improves the order of accuracy of our WENO algorithm, handles extremely strong discontinuities (ranging up to nine orders of magnitude), allows for shock collision and bounce back, and removes high frequency noise. The causes of the well-known "wall heating" phenomenon are discussed, and we demonstrate that this particular pathology can be effectively treated in the framework of the C-method. This method is generalized to two space dimensions in the second part of this work [41]., Comment: 56 pages, 29 figures, to appear in Journal of Computational Physics

This is the second part to our companion paper [18]. Herein, we generalize to two space dimensions the C-method developed in [20,18] for adding localized, space-time smooth artificial viscosity to nonlinear systems of conservation laws that propagate shock waves, rarefaction waves, and contact discontinuities. For gas dynamics, the C-method couples the Euler equations to scalar reaction-diffusion equations, which we call C-equations, whose solutions serve as space-time smooth artificial viscosity indicators for shocks and contacts. We develop a high-order numerical algorithm for gas dynamics in 2-D which can accurately simulate the Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability with Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) roll-up of the contact discontinuity, as well as shock collision and bounce-back. We implement both directionally isotropic and anisotropic artificial viscosity schemes, the latter adding diffusion only in directions tangential to the evolving front. We additionally produce a novel shock collision indicator function, which naturally activates during shock collision, and then smoothly deactivates. Moreover, we implement a high-frequency 2-D wavelet-based noise detector together with an efficient and localized noise removal algorithm. We provide numerical results for some classical 2-D test problems, including the RT problem, the Noh problem, a circular explosion problem from the Liska and Wendroff [13] review paper, the Sedov blast wave problem, the double Mach 10 reflection test, and a shock-wall collision problem. In particular, we show that our artificial viscosity method can eliminate the wall-heating phenomenon for the Noh problem, and thereby produce an accurate, non-oscillatory solution, even though our simplified WENO-type scheme fails to run for this problem., Comment: 53 pages, 27 figures, to appear in Journal of Computational Physics

We establish global existence of solutions to the compressible Euler equations, in the case that a finite volume of ideal gas expands into vacuum. Vacuum states can occur with either smooth or singular sound speed, the latter corresponding to the so-called physical vacuum singularity when the enthalpy vanishes on the vacuum wave front like the distance function. In this instance, the Euler equations lose hyperbolicity and form a degenerate system of conservation laws, for which a local existence theory has only recently been developed. Sideris found a class of expanding finite degree-of-freedom global-in-time affine solutions, obtained by solving nonlinear ODEs. In three space dimensions, the stability of these affine solutions, and hence global existence of solutions, was established by Had\v{z}i\'{c} \& Jang with the pressure-density relation $p = \rho^\gamma$ with the constraint that $1< \gamma\le {\frac{5}{3}} $. They asked if a different approach could go beyond the $\gamma > {\frac{5}{3}} $ threshold. We provide an affirmative answer to their question, and prove stability of affine flows and global existence for all $\gamma >1$, thus also establishing global existence for the shallow water equations when $\gamma=2$., Comment: 51 pages, details added to Section 4.7, to appear in Arch. Rational Mech. Anal

We first prove local-in-time well-posedness for the Muskat problem, modeling fluid flow in a two-dimensional inhomogeneous porous media. The permeability of the porous medium is described by a step function, with a jump discontinuity across the fixed-in-time curve $(x_1,-1+f(x_1))$, while the interface separating the fluid from the vacuum region is given by the time-dependent curve $(x_1,h(x_1,t))$. Our estimates are based on a new methodology that relies upon a careful study of the PDE system, coupling Darcy's law and incompressibility of the fluid, rather than the analysis of the singular integral contour equation for the interface function $h$. We are able to develop an existence theory for any initial interface given by $h_0 \in H^2$ and any permeability curve-of-discontinuity that is given by $f \in H^{2.5}$. In particular, our method allows for both curves to have (pointwise) unbounded curvature. In the case that the permeability discontinuity is the set $f=0$, we prove global existence and decay to equilibrium for small initial data. This decay is obtained using a new energy-energy dissipation inequality that couples tangential derivatives of the velocity in the bulk of the fluid with the curvature of the interface. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first global existence result for the Muskat problem with discontinuous permeability.

We prove that weak solutions of the inviscid SQG equations are not unique, thereby answering Open Problem 11 in the survey arXiv:1111.2700 by De Lellis and Sz\'ekelyhidi Jr. Moreover, we also show that weak solutions of the dissipative SQG equation are not unique, even if the fractional dissipation is stronger than the square root of the Laplacian., Comment: 49 pages

The two-phase Stefan problem describes the temperature distribution in a homogeneous medium undergoing a phase transition such as ice melting to water. This is accomplished by solving the heat equation on a time-dependent domain, composed of two regions separated by an a priori unknown moving boundary which is transported by the difference (or jump) of the normal derivatives of the temperature in each phase. We establish local-in-time well-posedness and a global-in-time stability result for arbitrary sufficiently smooth domains and small initial temperatures. To this end, we develop a higher-order energy with natural weights adapted to the problem and combine it with Hopf-type inequalities. This extends the previous work by Hadzic and Shkoller [31,32] on the one-phase Stefan problem to the setting of two-phase problems, and simplifies the proof significantly., Comment: 58 pages, 1 figure

We first develop a new mathematical model for two-fluid interface motion, subjected to the Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability in two-dimensional fluid flow, which in its simplest form, is given by $ h_{tt}(\alpha,t) = A g\, \Lambda h - \frac{\sigma}{\rho^++\rho^-} \Lambda^3 h - A \partial_\alpha(H h_t h_t) $, where $\Lambda = H \partial_ \alpha $ and $H$ denotes the Hilbert transform. In this so-called $h$-model, $A$ is the Atwood number, $g$ is the acceleration, $ \sigma $ is surface tension, and $\rho^\pm$ denotes the densities of the two fluids. Under a certain stability condition, we prove that this so-called $h$-model is both locally and globally well-posed. Numerical simulations of the $h$-model show that the interface can quickly grow due to nonlinearity, and then stabilize when the lighter fluid is on top of the heavier fluid and acceleration is directed downward. In the unstable case of a heavier fluid being supported by the lighter fluid, we find good agreement for the growth of the mixing layer with experimental data in the "rocket rig" experiment of Read of Youngs. We then derive an RT interface model with a general parameterization $z(\alpha,t)$ such that $ z_{tt}= \Lambda\bigg{[}\frac{A}{|\partial_\alpha z|^2}H\left(z_t\cdot (\partial_\alpha z)^\perp H(z_t\cdot (\partial_\alpha z)^\perp)\right) + A g z_2 \bigg{]} \frac{(\partial_\alpha z)^\perp}{|\partial_\alpha z|^2} +z_t\cdot (\partial_\alpha z)^\perp\left(\frac{(\partial_\alpha z_t)^\perp}{|\partial_\alpha z|^2}-\frac{(\partial_\alpha z)^\perp 2(\partial_\alpha z\cdot \partial_\alpha z_t)}{|\partial_\alpha z|^4}\right)$. This more general RT $z$-model allows for interface turn-over. Numerical simulations of the $z$-model show an even better agreement with the predicted mixing layer growth for the "rocket rig" experiment., Comment: 41 pages, 18 figures, a global-in-time existence theorem has been added, asymptotic behavior of solutions is discussed, a new model that allows for interface turn-over has been added, a number of numerical simulations have been added

We study the relativistic Euler equations on the Minkowski spacetime background. We make assumptions on the equation of state and the initial data that are relativistic analogs of the well-known physical vacuum boundary condition, which has played an important role in prior work on the non-relativistic compressible Euler equations. Our main result is the derivation, relative to Lagrangian (also known as co-moving) coordinates, of local-in-time a priori estimates for the solution. The solution features a fluid-vacuum boundary, transported by the fluid four-velocity, along which the hyperbolicity of the equations degenerates. In this context, the relativistic Euler equations are equivalent to a degenerate quasilinear hyperbolic wave-map-like system that cannot be treated using standard energy methods., Comment: 43 pages

We consider the vortex patch problem for both the 2-D and 3-D incompressible Euler equations. In 2-D, we prove that for vortex patches with $H^{k-0.5}$ Sobolev-class contour regularity, $k \ge 4$, the velocity field on both sides of the vortex patch boundary has $H^k$ regularity for all time. In 3-D, we establish existence of solutions to the vortex patch problem on a finite-time interval $[0,T]$, and we simultaneously establish the $H^{k-0.5}$ regularity of the two-dimensional vortex patch boundary, as well as the $H^k$ regularity of the velocity fields on both sides of vortex patch boundary, for $k \ge 3$., Comment: 30 pages, added references and some details to Section 5

In fluid dynamics, an interface splash singularity occurs when a locally smooth interface self-intersects in finite time. We prove that for $d$-dimensional flows, $d=2$ or $3$, the free-surface of a viscous water wave, modeled by the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with moving free-boundary, has a finite-time splash singularity. In particular, we prove that given a sufficiently smooth initial boundary and divergence-free velocity field, the interface will self-intersect in finite time., Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures

The classical one-phase Stefan problem (without surface tension) allows for a continuum of steady state solutions, given by an arbitrary (but sufficiently smooth) domain together with zero temperature. We prove global-in-time stability of such steady states, assuming a sufficient degree of smoothness on the initial domain, but without any a priori restriction on the convexity properties of the initial shape. This is an extension of our previous result [28] in which we studied nearly spherical shapes., Comment: 14 pages. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1212.1422

We study the dynamics of the interface between two incompressible fluids in a two-dimensional porous medium whose flow is modeled by the Muskat equations. For the two-phase Muskat problem, we establish global well-posedness and decay to equilibrium for small $H^2$ perturbations of the rest state. For the one-phase Muskat problem, we prove local well-posedness for $H^2$ initial data of arbitrary size. Finally, we show that solutions to the Muskat equations instantaneously become infinitely smooth., Comment: 49 pages

We provide a self-contained proof of the solvability and regularity of a Hodge-type elliptic system, wherein the divergence and curl of a vector field are prescribed in an open, bounded, Sobolev-class domain, and either the normal component or the tangential components of the vector field are prescribed on the boundary. The proof is based on a regularity theory for vector elliptic equations set on Sobolev-class domains and with Sobolev-class coefficients., Comment: 49 Pages, improved exposition and corrected typos

In fluid dynamics, an interface splash singularity occurs when a locally smooth interface self-intersects in finite time. By means of elementary arguments, we prove that such a singularity cannot occur in finite time for vortex sheet evolution, i.e. for the two-phase incompressible Euler equations. We prove this by contradiction; we assume that a splash singularity does indeed occur in finite time. Based on this assumption, we find precise blow-up rates for the components of the velocity gradient which, in turn, allow us to characterize the geometry of the evolving interface just prior to self-intersection. The constraints on the geometry then lead to an impossible outcome, showing that our assumption of a finite-time splash singularity was false., Comment: 39 pages, 8 figures, details added to proofs in Sections 5 and 6

The classical one-phase Stefan problem describes the temperature distribution in a homogeneous medium undergoing a phase transition, such as ice melting to water. This is accomplished by solving the heat equation on a time-dependent domain whose boundary is transported by the normal derivative of the temperature along the evolving and a priori unknown free-boundary. We establish a global-in-time stability result for nearly spherical geometries and small temperatures, using a novel hybrid methodology, which combines energy estimates, decay estimates, and Hopf-type inequalities., Comment: 50 pages, references added, minor typos corrected, to appear in Comm. Pure Appl. Math, abstract added for UK REF

We study the global existence and decay to spherical equilibrium of Hele-Shaw flows with surface tension. We prove that without injection of fluid, perturbations of the sphere decay to zero exponentially fast. On the other hand, with a time-dependent rate of fluid injection into the Hele-Shaw cell, the distance from the moving boundary to an expanding sphere (with time-dependent radius) also decays to zero but with an algebraic rate, which depends on the injection rate of the fluid., Comment: 25 Pages

We prove that the 3-D compressible Euler equations with surface tension along the moving free-boundary are well-posed. Specifically, we consider isentropic dynamics and consider an equation of state, modeling a liquid, given by Courant and Friedrichs as $p(\rho) = \alpha \rho^ \gamma - \beta$ for consants $\gamma >1$ and $ \alpha, \beta > 0$. The analysis is made difficult by two competing nonlinearities associated with the potential energy: compression in the bulk, and surface area dynamics on the free-boundary. Unlike the analysis of the incompressible Euler equations, wherein boundary regularity controls regularity in the interior, the compressible Euler equation require the additional analysis of nonlinear wave equations generating sound waves. An existence theory is developed by a specially chosen parabolic regularization together with the vanishing viscosity method. The artificial parabolic term is chosen so as to be asymptotically consistent with the Euler equations in the limit of zero viscosity. Having solutions for the positive surface tension problem, we proceed to obtain a priori estimates which are independent of the surface tension parameter. This requires choosing initial data which satisfy the Taylor sign condition. By passing to the limit of zero surface tension, we prove the well-posedness of the compressible Euler system without surface on the free-boundary, and without derivative loss., Comment: 73 pages, 1 figure

We introduce a new methodology for adding localized, space-time smooth, artificial viscosity to nonlinear systems of conservation laws which propagate shock waves, rarefactions, and contact discontinuities, which we call the $C$-method. We shall focus our attention on the compressible Euler equations in one space dimension. The novel feature of our approach involves the coupling of a linear scalar reaction-diffusion equation to our system of conservation laws, whose solution $C(x,t)$ is the coefficient to an additional (and artificial) term added to the flux, which determines the location, localization, and strength of the artificial viscosity. Near shock discontinuities, $C(x,t)$ is large and localized, and transitions smoothly in space-time to zero away from discontinuities. Our approach is a provably convergent, spacetime-regularized variant of the original idea of Richtmeyer and Von Neumann, and is provided at the level of the PDE, thus allowing a host of numerical discretization schemes to be employed. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the $C$-method with three different numerical implementations and apply these to a collection of classical problems: the Sod shock-tube, the Osher-Shu shock-tube, the Woodward-Colella blast wave and the Leblanc shock-tube. First, we use a classical continuous finite-element implementation using second-order discretization in both space and time, FEM-C. Second, we use a simplified WENO scheme within our $C$-method framework, WENO-C. Third, we use WENO with the Lax-Friedrichs flux together with the $C$-equation, and call this WENO-LF-C. All three schemes yield higher-order discretization strategies, which provide sharp shock resolution with minimal overshoot and noise, and compare well with higher-order WENO schemes that employ approximate Riemann solvers, outperforming them for the difficult Leblanc shock tube experiment., Comment: 34 pages, 27 figures

We prove that the 3-D free-surface incompressible Euler equations with regular initial geometries and velocity fields have solutions which can form a finite-time "splash" (or "splat") singularity first introduced in [9], wherein the evolving 2-D hypersurface, the moving boundary of the fluid domain, self-intersects at a point (or on surface). Such singularities can occur when the crest of a breaking wave falls unto its trough, or in the study of drop impact upon liquid surfaces. Our approach is founded upon the Lagrangian description of the free-boundary problem, combined with a novel approximation scheme of a finite collection of local coordinate charts; as such we are able to analyze a rather general set of geometries for the evolving 2-D free-surface of the fluid. We do not assume the fluid is irrotational, and as such, our method can be used for a number of other fluid interface problems, including compressible flows, plasmas, as well as the inclusion of surface tension effects., Comment: 40 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Comm. Math. Phys, abstract added for UK REF

We develop a framework for a unified treatment of well-posedness for the Stefan problem with or without surface tension. In the absence of surface tension, we establish well-posedness in Sobolev spaces for the classical Stefan problem. We introduce a new velocity variable which extends the velocity of the moving free-boundary into the interior domain. The equation satisfied by this velocity is used for the analysis in place of the heat equation satisfied by the temperature. Solutions to the classical Stefan problem are then constructed as the limit of solutions to a carefully chosen sequence of approximations to the velocity equation, in which the moving free-boundary is regularized and the boundary condition is modified in a such a way as to preserve the basic nonlinear structure of the original problem. With our methodology, we simultaneously find the required stability condition for well-posedness and obtain new estimates for the regularity of the moving free-boundary. Finally, we prove that solutions of the Stefan problem with positive surface tension $\sigma$ converge to solutions of the classical Stefan problem as $\sigma \to 0$., Comment: Various typos corrected and references added

We prove well-posedness for the 3-D compressible Euler equations with moving physical vacuum boundary, with an equation of state given by the so-called gamma gas-law for gamma > 1. The physical vacuum singularity requires the sound speed c to go to zero as the square-root of the distance to the moving boundary, and thus creates a degenerate and characteristic hyperbolic free-boundary system wherein the density vanishes on the free-boundary, the uniform Kreiss--Lopatinskii condition is violated, and manifest derivative loss ensues. Nevertheless, we are able to establish the existence of unique solutions to this system on a short time-interval, which are smooth (in Sobolev spaces) all the way to the moving boundary, and our estimates have no derivative loss with respect to initial data. Our proof is founded on an approximation of the Euler equations by a degenerate parabolic regularization obtained from a specific choice of a degenerate artificial viscosity term, chosen to preserve as much of the geometric structure of the Euler equations as possible. We first construct solutions to this degenerate parabolic regularization using a new higher-order Hardy-type inequality; we then establish estimates for solutions to this degenerate parabolic system which are independent of the artificial viscosity parameter. Solutions to the compressible Euler equations are found in the limit as the artificial viscosity tends to zero. Our regular solutions can be viewed as degenerate viscosity solutions. Out methodology can be applied to many other systems of degenerate and characteristic hyperbolic systems of conservation laws., Comment: 83 pages, (v.2) typos corrected, some details added to Step 3 in Section 8.6.2, (v.3) a lower-order function has been added to the right-hand side of (8.7b)

The free-boundary compressible 1-D Euler equations with moving physical vacuum boundary are a system of hyperbolic conservation laws which are both characteristic and degenerate. The physical vacuum singularity (or rate-of-degeneracy) requires the sound speed $c= \gamma \rho^{\gamma -1}$ to scale as the square-root of the distance to the vacuum boundary, and has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. We establish the existence of unique solutions to this system on a short time-interval, which are smooth (in Sobolev spaces) all the way to the moving boundary. The proof is founded on a new higher-order Hardy-type inequality in conjunction with an approximation of the Euler equations consisting of a particular degenerate parabolic regularization. Our regular solutions can be viewed as degenerate viscosity solutions., Comment: 27 pages

We prove a priori estimates for the three-dimensional compressible Euler equations with moving {\it physical} vacuum boundary, with an equation of state given by $p(\rho) = C_\gamma \rho^\gamma $ for $\gamma >1$. The vacuum condition necessitates the vanishing of the pressure, and hence density, on the dynamic boundary, which creates a degenerate and characteristic hyperbolic {\it free-boundary} system to which standard methods of symmetrizable hyperbolic equations cannot be applied.

We prove well-posedness of vortex sheets with surface tension in the 3D incompressible Euler equations with vorticity., Comment: 28 pages

We study a moving boundary value problem consisting of a viscous incompressible fluid moving and interacting with a nonlinear elastic solid shell. The fluid motion is governed by the Navier-Stokes equations, while the shell is modeled by the nonlinear Koiter shell model, consisting of both bending and membrane tractions. The fluid is coupled to the solid shell through continuity of displacements and tractions (stresses) along the moving material interface. We prove existence and uniqueness of solutions in Sobolev spaces., Comment: 28 pages