IMA Journal of Numerical Analysis Advance Access published online on May 26, 2008
IMA Journal of Numerical Analysis, doi:10.1093/imanum/drn026
A convergent finite-difference method for a nonlinear variational wave equation

Department of Mathematical Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway and Centre of Mathematics for Applications, University of Oslo, PO Box 1053, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway


Centre of Mathematics for Applications, University of Oslo, PO Box 1053, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
Email: holden{at}math.ntnu.no
Email: kennethk{at}math.uio.no
Email: nilshr{at}math.uio.no
Received on 20 August 2007. Revised on 29 January 2008.
| Abstract |
|---|
We establish rigorously convergence of a semidiscrete upwind scheme for the nonlinear variational wave equation
with
and
. Introducing Riemann invariants R = ut + cux and S = ut – cux, the variational wave equation is equivalent to
and
with
. An upwind scheme is defined for this system. We assume that the speed c is positive, increasing and both c and its derivative are bounded away from zero and that
are nonpositive. The numerical scheme is illustrated on several examples.
Key Words: variational wave equation; convergence of finite-difference schemes; liquid crystals