The Riemann problem for van der Waals fluids with nonclassical phase transitions

Abstract

We consider the Riemann problem for fluids of van der Waals type with phase transitions involving nonclassical shocks. The model is elliptic-hyperbolic and the pressure function admits two inflection points. First, a unique classical Riemann solver is constructed, which is based on rarefaction waves, classical shocks and zero-speed shocks. Second, we investigate nonclassical Riemann solvers, which involve nonclassical shocks. Nonclassical shocks are shock waves which violate the Liu entropy condition and satisfy a kinetic relation. It can be shown that then two wave curves always intersect either once or twice at different phases. Consequently, the Riemann problem always admit one or two solutions in the class of classical and nonclassical shocks, zero-speed shocks, and rarefaction waves.