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4. Strong and Weak Solutions

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4. Strong and Weak Solutions

4.1. Conservative and Non-conservative Form of the Burgers’ Equation

4.1.1. Non-Conservative Form

\[{\partial u \over \partial t} + u {\partial u \over \partial x} = 0\]

4.1.2. Conservative Form

\[{\partial u \over \partial t} + {\partial F \over \partial x} = 0\]

where the Flux is \(F\) is (for Burgers’ Equation):

\[F = {u^2 \over 2}\]

May also write:

\[{\partial u \over \partial t} + A {\partial u \over \partial x} = 0\]

where the Jacobian \(A\) is (for Burgers’ Equation):

\[A = A(u) = u\]

For more than 1 dimension, A is a matrix

\[A = {\partial F_i \over \partial u_j}\]

4.2. Hyperbolic

The Equation is hyperbolic \(\Rightarrow\) all of the eigenvalues of A are real.

4.3. Strong Solution

u is continuous, but bounded discontinuties in derivatives may occur

4.4. Weak Solution

u is continuous almost everywhere, i.e. it has a jump (e.g. a shock wave)

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