Symmetries and Large Time Asymptotics

of Compressible Euler Flows with Damping

By P. L. Sachdev, B. Mayil Vaganan, and G. Sivagami

Large time asymptotics of compressible Euler equations for a polytropic gas

with and without the porous media equation are constructed in which the
Barenblatt solution is embedded. Invariance analysis for these governing
equations are carried out using the classical and the direct methods. A new
second order nonlinear partial differential equation is derived and is shown
to reduce to an Euler–Painlevé equation. A regular perturbation solution of
a reduced ordinary differential equation is determined. And an exact closed
form solution of a system of ordinary differential equations is derived using
the invariance analysis.

1. Introduction

The compressible Euler equations with damping are

ρt + ∇ ◦ (ρ u ) = 0, (1)

u )t + ∇ ◦ ρ(
( p u ⊗ u ) + ∇ p(ρ) = −αρ u , (2)
where u , p, and ρ are the velocity, pressure, and density, respectively, of a gas
and α > 0 is the friction constant.

Address for correspondence: B. Mayil Vaganan, Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics,
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625021, India; e-mail: vkbmv66@yahoo.co.in

STUDIES IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS 120:105–128 105

C 2008 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Published by Blackwell Publishing, 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA, and 9600 Garsington
Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK.
106 P. L. Sachdev et al.

We assume the gas to be polytropic so that

p(ρ) = kρ γ , k > 0, γ > 1. (3)
Liu [1] justified the Darcy’s law for the compressible flows in the
time-asymptotic sense. Indeed, he constructed a class of particular solutions of
(1) and (2) and related it, time-asymptotically, to the self-similar solutions (see
Barenblatt [2]) of the porous media equation
ρt = α −1 δp(ρ), (4)
when (2) is simplified to the Darcy’s law
∇ p(ρ) = −αρ u . (5)
Hsiao and Liu [3] showed that (1), (2), and (4) are time-asymptotically
equivalent. The singular behavior of the flow near the vacuum from ρ = 0 was
studied extensively by Liu [1] and Makino [4, 5]. Nishida [6] showed that the
damping term prevents the formation of shocks away from the vacuum.
The sound speed c is given by
dp
c2 = = kγρ (γ −1) . (6)
dρ
In terms of the characteristic speeds u and c, (1) and (2) become
(c2 )t + ∇(c2 )u˙ + (γ − 1)c2 ∇ u˙ = 0, (7)
1
u t + (
u ∇)
˙ u+ ∇(c2 )x = −αu, (8)
γ −1
In spherically symmetric form, (7) and (8) and, (7) and (5), respectively,
take the form
(n − 1)(γ − 1) 2
(c2 )t + u(c2 )x + c u + (γ − 1)c2 u x = 0, (9)
x
1
u t + uu x + (c2 )x = −αu, (10)
γ −1
and
(n − 1)(γ − 1) 2
(c2 )t + u(c2 )x + c u + (γ − 1)c2 u x = 0, (11)
x
1
(c2 )x = −αu, (12)
γ −1
where
 1/n

n
x= xi2 and u = (x/x )
u. (13)
i=0
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 107

Liu [1] looked for solution of (9) and (10) in the form
u = a(t)x and c2 = e(t) − b(t)x 2 . (14)
He showed that a(t), b(t), and e(t) are governed by the system of ordinary
differential equations
b
+ (nγ − n + 2)ab = 0, (15)

e
+ n(γ − 1)ea = 0, (16)
2
a
+ a 2 + αa − b = 0. (17)
γ −1
Liu [1,7] then proved by using the phase-plane analysis that the solutions to
(15)–(17) exist for all time t satisfying any given set of initial data a(0), b(0),
and e(0).
For (11) and (12) Liu [1] inserted the same ansatz
u = ā(t)x and c2 = ē(t) − b̄(t)x 2 . (18)
As expected the equations are simpler than (15)–(17):
b̄
+ (nγ − n + 2)ā b̄ = 0, (19)

ē
+ n(γ − 1)ēā = 0, (20)
2
α ā − b̄ = 0, (21)
γ −1
Lie found the Barenblatt solutions for this system, namely,
1
ā(t) = t −1 , (22)
nγ − n + 2
(γ − 1)α
b̄(t) = t −1 , (23)
2(nγ − n + 2)

ē(t) = e0 t −n(γ −1)/(nγ −n+2) . (24)

The purpose of the present work is manifold: We first recover the ansatz
(18) using the direct method of Clarkson and Kruskal [8]. Next we solve both
the nonlinear, coupled systems of ordinary differential equations (15)–(17)
and (19)–(21) in which we embed the Barenblatt solution. Then we study the
symmetry properties of both the systems (9)–(10) and (11)–(12) using the
classical and the direct methods. Later a new second order nonlinear partial
differential equation is derived from (11) to (12) by eliminating u, and this
equation is shown to reduce to an Euler–Painlevé equation. The remaining of
paper discusses certain interesting results in which we state that more than one
108 P. L. Sachdev et al.

partial differential equations of different family reduces to a single ordinary

differential equation through various similarity transformations.

2. To recover the ansatz of Liu

We insert the following special form of the direct method

u = φ(x, t) + θ (x, t)F(z), c2 = λ(x, t) + µ(x, t)G(z), z = x. (25)

into (11)–(12) to obtain

 
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
µt + φµx + φµ + (γ − 1)µφx G
x
 
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
+ θ µx + θ µ + (γ − 1)µθx F G
x
+ φµG
+ (γ − 1)θ µGF
+ θµFG
= 0, (26)
 
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
λt + φλx + φλ + (γ − 1)λφx
x
 
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
+ θ λx + θλ + (γ − 1)λθx F
x
+ (γ − 1)λθ F
= 0, (27)
 
1 1 1
αφ + λx + µx G + µG
+ αθ F = 0, (28)
γ −1 γ −1 γ −1
where we used the method of equation splitting. Here F
= d F/d x and G
=
dG/dx.
If the coefficient of FG
is used as the normalizing coefficient in (26), then
the coefficient of G
yields the constraint φ = θ(z) which gives rise to φ = 0,
if remark (see Clarkson and Kruskal [8]) concerning φ is used. Equations (28)
and (27) now become
1 1 1
λx + µx G + αθ F + µG
= 0, (29)
γ −1 γ −1 γ −1
 
(n − 1)(γ − 1)

λt + θλx + θ λ + (γ − 1)λθ x F + (γ − 1)λθ F = 0. (30)

x
If we treat the coefficient of G
as the normalizing coefficient in (29) then it
may easily be verified that the constraints µx = µ and λx = µx  lead
successively to µx = λx = 0, and (29) reduces to
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 109

1
αθ F + µG
= 0. (31)
γ −1
It may be noted that if we proceed with θ x = 0, then the resulting solution
may be verified to be the same as the one that will be obtained when θ x = 0.
So it suffices to consider the case θ x = 0 in Equation (30). Equation (30) then
requires that F = kx and reduces to
dλ
+ kn(γ − 1)θλ = 0. (32)
dt
Equation (31), in view of F = kx, demands that G = κ x 2 and then becomes
−κ 2µ
αθ = . (33)
k γ −1
Finally (26) takes the form
dµ
+ k(nγ − n + 2)θµ = 0. (34)
dt
Now we insert for F and G into (25) to obtain

u = kxθ (t), c2 = λ(t) + κ x 2 µ(t). (35)

We note that the form (35), with k = 1, κ = −1, θ = ā, λ = ē and µ = b̄,
agrees with (18) used by Liu [1].

3. An exact series solutions of (32)–(34)

We may note that the Equations (32)–(34) are equivalent to the system (15)–(17).
Now elimination of θ between (33) and (34) results in
dµ 2κ(nγ − n + 2)
= µ2 , = . (36)
dt α(γ − 1)
with a solution
−1 α(γ − 1)
µ(t) = t −1 . (37)
κ 2(nγ − n + 2)
Equation (37) is the Barenblatt solution (23) obtained by Liu [1]. Now
we obtain an exact series solution of the nonlinear equation (36) in which
we embed the Barenblatt solution (37) as the first term: The transformation
µ(t) = M(τ ), τ = 1/t changes (36) to

τ 2 M
+ M 2 = 0. (38)
110 P. L. Sachdev et al.

It is evident that τ = 0 is a regular singular point of (38). Inserting


∞
M(τ ) = aq τ q+1 , (39)
q=0

into (38) and equating different powers of τ to 0, we have

1
a0 = − , a1 = an arbitrary constant, (40)


 
q−1
aq−2 =− aq− j−1 a j−1 , q ≥ 2. (41)
q − 1 j=1

The relation (41) can be rewritten as

 
q−2
aq−2 = − aq− j−1 a j−1 , q ≥ 4, (42)
q − 3 j=1

from which we obtain

q−2
aq−2 = (−)q−3 a1 , q ≥ 4. (43)
Thus we have
−1 α(γ − 1) ∞
q−2
M(τ ) = τ+ (−)q−3 a1 τ q−1 , (44)
κ 2(nγ − n + 2) q=3

where we have used (36) to replace . Correspondingly the function µ(t) is

−1 α(γ − 1) ∞
t −1 +
q−2
µ(t) = (−)q−3 a1 t 1−q . (45)
κ 2(nγ − n + 2) q=3

It is clear that the Barenblatt solution (23) is contained in (45) as the first term
and itself is the general solution of (36) as this solution involves an arbitrary
constant a1 .
Inserting (45) into (33), we have
1 1 −2κ ∞
−1 q−2
θ= t + (−)q−3 a1 t 1−q , (46)
k nγ − n + 2 αk(γ − 1) q=3

where we used (22) to show that the first term in (46) is the Barenblatt solution.
Substituting (46) into (32) and integrating we find the general solution of
(32) as

−n(γ −1) 
∞
q−2
λ = λ0 t (nγ −n+2) + exp q−3
(−) a1 t 1−q
, (47)
q=2
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 111

where λ0 is the constant of integration. We remark that the series solutions

(45), (46), and (47) of the system of nonlinear, coupled equations (32), (33),
and (34) is an exact asymptotic solutions for large time.
Inserting (45), (46), (47) in (35) we get the following exact, large-time
asymptotic solutions of (11)–(12):
 
−2κ ∞
q−3 q−2 1−q
u(x, t) = −κ ā(t) + (−) a1 t x, (48)
αk(γ − 1) q=3

∞
q−3 q−2 1−q
c (x, t) = ē(t) + exp
2
(−) a1 t
q=2

 
−1 ∞
q−2
−κ b̄(t) + (−)q−3 a1 t 1−q x 2 , (49)
κ q=3

2κ(nγ − n + 2)
where  = α(γ − 1)
, and ā(t), b̄(t), and ē(t) are the Barenblatt solutions
(22)–(24).

4. A generalized Barenblatt solution of (15)–(17)

We again generalize the Barenblatt solution (22)–(24) by solving the system of

nonlinear, coupled equations (15)–(17) which is more general than the system
(32)–(34).
Elimination of a between (15) and (17) results in
nγ − n + 3
2 2(nγ − n + 2) 3
bb

− b + αbb
+ b = 0. (50)
nγ − n + 2 γ −1
A series solution of (50) is
α(γ − 1) 2(γ − 1)(nγ − n + 1) −2
b(t) = t −1 − t
2(nγ − n + 2) (nγ − n + 2)2
4(γ − 1)(nγ − n + 1) −3 (51)
+ t − ···.
13α(nγ − n + 2)2
Then a(t) is easily obtained from (15) as
1 4(nγ − n + 1) −2
a(t) = t −1 − t
nγ − n + 2 α(nγ − n + 2)2
16(nγ − n + 1) (52)
− (12nγ − 12n + 11)t −3 + · · · .
13α 2 (nγ − n + 2)3
112 P. L. Sachdev et al.

A series solution of (16) is

n(γ −1)
e(t) = e0 t − nγ −n+2
 
n(γ − 1)(nγ − n + 1) −1
× 1+ t + ··· ,
α(nγ − n + 2)[n(γ − 1) − (1 + p)(nγ − n + 2)]
(53)
where
n(γ − 1)
p= , (54)
nγ − n + 2
and e0 is an arbitrary constant.
We note that the first term in (51), (52), and (53) are nothing but the Barenblatt
solutions ā(t), b̄(t), and ē(t). Therefore the solutions (51), (52), and (53) of
(15)–(17) is an another generalization of the Barenblatt solution (22)–(24).
The solution of (9)–(10), in the present case is

4(nγ − n + 1) −2
u = ā(t) − t
α(nγ − n + 2)2

16(nγ − n + 1)(12nγ − 12n + 11) −3
− t + · · · x, (55)
13α 2 (nγ − n + 2)3
 
n(γ − 1)(nγ − n + 1)
c = ē(t) +
2
t p−1
+ ···
α(nγ − n + 2) [n(γ − 1) − (1 + p)(nγ − n + 2)]

2(γ − 1)(nγ − n + 1) −2
− b̄(t) − t
(nγ − n + 2)2

4(γ − 1)(nγ − n + 1) −3
+ t − · · · x 2, (56)
13α(nγ − n + 2)2
where p = n(γ − 1)/(nγ − n + 2) and ā(t), b̄(t), and ē(t) are the Barenblatt
solution (22)–(24).

5. Lie’s classical symmetries of (9)–(10)

We employ the method of Logan and Perez [9] (also see Olver [10], Bluman and
Kumei [11]) to seek a one-parameter infinitesimal group of transformations
t ∗ = t + T, x ∗ = x +  X,
u ∗ = u + U, v ∗ = v + V, (57)
where the generators T, X , U, and V are functions of t, x, u, and v under which
the system of Equations (9)–(10) are invariant. We introduce the following
notation for the sake of convenience. Let x 1 = t, x 2 = x, u 1 = u, u 2 = v and
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 113

∂u i
pij = , i = 1, 2, j = 1, 2.
∂x j
The system of differential equations (9)–(10) is said to be constantly conformally
invariant under the infinitesimal group (57) if there exist constants α n j (n, j =
1, 2) such that

2
L Hn = αn j H j , n = 1, 2, (58)
j=1

for all smooth surfaces u 1 = u i (x j ). Here L is the derivative in the direction of

the extended vector field
∂ ∂ ∂
L = ξxi i + ξuj j + ξ pij i ,
∂x ∂u ∂pj
where
ξx1 = T, ξx2 = X, ξu1 = U, ξu2 = V,

∂ξui ∂ξui k ∂ξxk i ∂ξxk i m

ξ pj
i
= + p − p − p p , (59)
∂x j ∂u k j ∂ x j k ∂u m k j
are the generators of the transformations of derivatives. Writing out (58) give
∂ Hn j ∂ Hn i ∂ Hn i
ξ + ξ + ξ = αn j H j , n = 1, 2. (60)
∂x j x ∂u i u ∂ pij pj

If ξ ipj from (59) are substituted into (60), polynomials in pji are obtained. If
these equations are made to hold for arbitrary values of pji , thus requiring
their coefficients to vanish, the determining equations which are linear partial
differential equations in the generators T, X , U, and V are obtained. If we
carry out this analysis for (9)–(10) then we may obtain
V = 2α22 v, U = α22 u, X = α22 x, T = t0 . (61)
Integrations of the invariant surface condition
dt dx du dv
= = = , (62)
t0 α22 x α22 u 2α22 v
give the similarity transformation
u = x f (z), v = x 2 g(z), z = xe−α22 t/t0 . (63)
Putting (63) in (9)–(10) we get the following ordinary differential equations
α22
2 1
− zf + f 2 + zf f
+ g+ zg
+ α f = 0, (64)
t0 γ −1 γ −1
114 P. L. Sachdev et al.

α22

− zg + z f g
+ [n(γ − 1) + 2] f g + (γ − 1)zg f
= 0. (65)
t0
A simple solution of this system is
f (z) = −α, g(z) = g0 z −2 , (66)
provided that α = 2α 22 /(n(γ − 1)t 0 ); here g 0 = 0 is the constant of integration.
The solution (66) yields a solution of (9)–(10) in which u t = (c2 )x = 0. In fact
this solution is
u = −αx, c2 = g0 e2α22 t/t0 , (67)
which clearly satisfy the initial conditions
u(x, t = 0) = −αx, c2 (x, t = 0) = g0 . (68)

6. Lie’s classical symmetries of (11)–(12)

The similarity transformation of (11)–(12) under Lie’s classical method is

surprisingly the same transformation (69) obtained for (9)–(10):
u = x f (z), v = x 2 g(z), z = xe−α22 t/t0 . (69)
But the equations satisfied by f (z) and g(z) are obviously different:
2 1
g+ zg
+ α f = 0, (70)
γ −1 γ −1
α22

− zg + z f g
+ [n(γ − 1) + 2] f g + (γ − 1)zg f
= 0. (71)
t0
Elimination of f between (70) and (71) results in
 

4 1
GG
+ G

2
GG + 2 + n +
γ −1 γ −1
 
2 αα22

+2 n + G2 + G = 0, (72)
γ −1 t0
where we used
g(z) = G(η), η = log z. (73)
Equation (72) is the Euler–Painlevé equation introduced by Sachdev and
collaborators [12–15] and generalized by Mayil Vaganan and Senthilkumaran
[16].
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 115

Equation (72) can be simplified by reducing its order by one through

G
(η) = H (G) to
 
dH 4 1 H2
H + 2+n+ H+
dG γ −1 γ −1 G
 
2 αα22 H
+2 n + G+ = 0. (74)
γ −1 t0 G
We now consider the case α 22 = 0 to obtain a solution of a system of
ordinary differential equations
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
uv
+ uv + (γ − 1)vu
= 0, (75)
x
1
v
= −αu, (76)
(γ − 1)
which is deduced from (11) to (12) by using u t = 0 = v t , v = c2 , because by
(69), z = x and therefore u = u(x), v = v(x).
Equation (72) with α 22 = 0 through the transformation G = V 1/(a+1)
changes to
   
4 γ 4
V

+ 2 + n + V
+ 2n + V = 0. (77)
γ −1 γ −1 γ −1
Its solution is
V (η) = h 1 eb1 η + h 2 eb2 η , (78)
where
    
4 8 2
− 2+n+ ± 4(1 + n) + n 2 + (1 − γ ) + n + 2 − nγ
γ −1 (γ − 1) γ − 1
b1,2 = .
2
(79)
Here h1 and h2 are arbitrary constants. Then
 (γ −1)/γ
G(η) = h 1 eb1 η + h 2 eb2 η . (80)
Thus the solution of the system (75)–(76) is
2  (γ −1)/γ
u(x, t) = − x h 1 x b 1 + h 2 x b2
α(γ − 1)
1  (−1)/γ  
− x h 1 x b1 + h 2 x b2 h 1 b1 x b1 + h 2 b2 x b2 . (81)
αγ
 (γ −1)/γ
v(x, t) = x 2 h 1 x b1 + h 2 x b2 . (82)
116 P. L. Sachdev et al.

7. Direct method to (9)–(10)

Following Clarkson and Kruskal [8] we insert

u = φ(x, t) + θ(x, t)F(z), (83)

c2 = ξ (x, t) + µ(x, t)G(z), (84)

z = z(x, t), (85)

into equations (9)–(10) and obtain
FF
+ 6 (z)G
+ 5 (z)G + 4 (z)F 2 + 3 (z)F

+ 2 (z)F + 1 (z) = 0, (86)

FG + 7 (z)GF + 6 (z)F + 5 (z)F G + 4 (z)F

+ 3 (z)G
+ 2 (z)G + 1 (z) = 0, (87)
where we have introduced  i (z), i = 1, 2, . . . , 6,  j (z), j = 1, 2, . . . , 7, such
that
1
φt + φφx + αφ + ξx = θ 2 z x 1 (z), (88)
γ −1
θt + φθx + αθ + θφx = θ 2 z x 2 (z), (89)
z t + φz x = θ z x 3 (z), (90)
θx = θ z x 4 (z), (91)
1
µx = θ 2 z x 5 (z), (92)
γ −1
1
µ = θ 2 6 (z), (93)
γ −1
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
ξt + φξx + ξ φ + (γ − 1)ξ φx = θµz x 1 (z), (94)
x
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
µt + φµx + µφ + (γ − 1)µφx = θµz x 2 (z), (95)
x
z t + φz x = θ z x 3 (z), (96)
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
θ ξx + θ ξ + (γ − 1)ξ θx = θµz x 4 (z), (97)
x
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
θ µx + θ µ + (γ − 1)µθx = θµz x 5 (z), (98)
x
(γ − 1)ξ = µ6 (z), (99)
(γ − 1) = 7 (z). (100)
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 117

The remarks listed below play an important role in what follows: Remarks 1
& 2: If φ(x, t) (or ξ (x, t)) is to be obtained from an equation of the form
φ(x, t) = φ̃(x, t) + β(x, t)(z) (or ξ (x, t) = ξ̃ (x, t) + β(x, t)(z)), then we
may set (z) = 0. Remarks 3 and 4: If θ(x, t) (or µ(x, t)) is given by an
equation of the form θ(x, t) = θ̃(x, t)(z)(or µ(x, t) = µ̃(x, t)(z)), then we
may choose (z) = 1. Remark 5: If the equation (z) = z̃(x, t) is to be solved
for z, then we may write (z) = z.
In view of remark 2, we choose 6 (z) = 0 in (99) and obtain ξ = 0. On
using ξ = 0, Equations (94) and (97) give 1 (z) = 4 (z) = 0. Replacing
 4 (z) by 
4 (z)/4 (z) in (91) and integrating with respect to x, we find that
θ = θ̂ (t)4 (z), where θ̂(t) > 0 is the function of integration; applying remark
3 to get  4 (z) = 0 and θ = θ(t).
Next we employ remark 5 to (93) to choose  6 (z) = z and obtain
1
z(x, t) = µθ −2 , (101)
γ −1
A perusal of Equations (90) and (96) reveals that  3 (z) = 3 (z). Using
remark 1 to (90) to take  3 (z) = 0 and φ = −z t /z x .
Now using θ = θ (t) and 5 (z) = 
5 (z)/5 (z) in (98) and integrating the
resulting equation with respect to x, we get
µ(x, t) = x k s(t), k = −(n − 1)(γ − 1), (102)
where s(t) > 0 is the function of integration, provided that remark 4 is used to
obtain 5 (z) = 1 implying that 5 (z) = 0. Equations (101) and (92) lead to
 5 (z) = 1. Substituting (101) and (102) into φ = −z t /z x , we find that


x θ s

φ= 2 − . (103)
k θ s
Solving (101) for x after substituting for µ from (102), we get
x = [(γ − 1)θ 2 s −1 z]1/k . (104)
Putting (101), (102), and (104) in (95), we have
 
1 θ
s
1 s
k −1

2 −1 1−1/k
2 − + = sθ (γ − 1)θ s z 2 (z).
k θ s γ −1 s (γ − 1)2
(105)
Equation requires that 2 (z) = l 2 z 1/k−1 where l2 is a constant and becomes
 
1 θ
s
1 s
kl2  1−1/k
2 − + = sθ −1 (γ − 1)θ 2 s −1 . (106)
k θ s γ −1 s (γ − 1) 2

In a similar fashion, Equations (88)–(89), respectively, force us to choose

 1 (z) = l 1 z 2/k−1 and  2 (z) = l 3 z 1/k−1 , where l1 and l3 are constants, and in
turn yield
118 P. L. Sachdev et al.

 
θ

θ
s

2 2
1
2 −2 2 − + 2
k θ θ s s

 

1 θ s
2 α θ s

+ 2 2 − + 2 − = l1 k(γ − 1)−2/k θ 2−4/k s 2/k , (107)

k θ s k θ s


θ
1 θ s
l3 k
+ 2 − +α = θ 1−2/k s 1/k . (108)
θ k θ s (γ − 1)1/k
A solution of the overdetermined system of Equations (106)–(108) is
θ(t) = ae pt , s(t) = be− p(k−2)t , (109)
where

l1 = k −1 (γ − 1)2/k b−2/k a 4/k−2 [k −2 4 p 2 + q 2 − 4 pq) + αk −1 (2 p − q) ,
l2 = k −1 (γ − 1)1/k b−1/k a 2/k−1 [ p(γ − 1) − p(k − 2)],
l3 = k −1 (γ − 1)1/k b−1/k a 2/k−1 [2 p + α]. (110)

The expressions for µ, φ, and z are now obtained by inserting (110) into
(102), (103), and (101):
µ = x k e− p(k−2)t , φ = px, (111)

1
z= ba −2 x k e− pkt . (112)
γ −1
The corresponding similarity form of the solution of (9)–(10) is determined
if we put (109) and (111)–(112) into (83)–(85):
u(x, t) = px + ae pt F(z), (113)

c2 (x, t) = bx k e− p(k−2)t G(z), (114)

1
z(x, t) = ba −2 x k e− pkt . (115)
γ −1
The functions F(z) and G(z) appearing in (113)–(114) are governed by the
equations
FF
+ zG
+ G + c2 z 1/k−1 F + mz 2/k−1 = 0, (116)

FG
+ (γ − 1)GF
+ l2 z 1/k−1 G = 0, (117)
where we have substituted for  i (z), i = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and  j (z), j = 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 7. A solution of this system is
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 119

 
−l2 kz 1/k k l2l3 k l22 k
z k −1 .
2
F= , G= −l1 + −
(γ + 1 − k) 2 (γ + 1 − k) (γ + 1 − k)2
(118)

8. Direct method to (11)–(12)

We insert (83)–(85) into (11)–(12) to obtain

FG
+ 7 (z)GF
+ 6 (z)F
+ 5 (z)F G + 4 (z)F + 3 (z)G

+ 2 (z)G + 1 (z) = 0, (119)

G
+ 10 (z)G + 9 (z)F + 8 (z) = 0, (120)
The functions  n (z), n = 1, 2, . . . , 10 are introduced according to
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
ξt + φξx + ξ φ + (γ − 1)ξ φx = θµz x 1 (z), (121)
x
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
µt + φµx + µφ + (γ − 1)µφx = θµz x 2 (z), (122)
x
z t + φz x = θ z x 3 (z), (123)
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
θξx + θ ξ + (γ − 1)ξ θx = θµz x 4 (z), (124)
x
(n − 1)(γ − 1)
θµx + θ µ + (γ − 1)µθx = θµz x 5 (z), (125)
x
(γ − 1)ξ = µ6 (z), (126)
(γ − 1) = 7 (z), (127)
1 1
αφ + ξx = µz x 8 (z), (128)
γ −1 (γ − 1)
1
αθ = µz x 9 (z), (129)
(γ − 1)
µx = µz x 10 (z). (130)
Remark 2 and Equation (126) leads to ξ =  6 (z) = 0. Then (121) and (124)
give  1 (z) =  4 (z) = 0. Writing 
10 (z)/10 (z) for  10 (z) in (130), integrating
with respect to x and using remark 4, we arrive at  10 (z) = 0 and µ = µ(t). If
we take φ = θ and  8 =  9 , then µt = 0 leading to µ = q, a constant.
The condition φ = θ and (122) and (125) give  2 =  5 . Now taking  5 =
(γ − 1)
5 (z)/5 (z) in Equation (125), integrating with respect to x and using
remark 5, we finally have  5 = (γ − 1)z −1 and
120 P. L. Sachdev et al.

z = x n−1 θa(t), (131)

where the function a(t) is to be determined. We set θ = xb(t). In view of
2−n
(131), Equations (123) and (129) require that 9 = c9 z n and  3 − 1 = c3
and we therefore have
2 2−n
α(γ − 1) = nc9 qa n b n , (132)

b
a

+ = nc3 b(t). (133)

b a
Solutions of (132) and (133) are
    n−2
α(γ − 1) n/2 −1 2 2−n 1 −1
a(t) = t 2 , b(t) = − t . (134)
nc9 q 2c3 2c3
The expressions for φ, θ, λ, µ, and z thus are
1 −1
φ(x, t) = θ(x, t) = − xt , λ(x, t) = 0, µ(x, t) = q, (135)
2c3
 n  
−1 2 α(γ − 1) n/2 n −n
z(x, t) = x t 2. (136)
2c3 nc9 q
The corresponding similarity transformation of (9) and (12) is obtained by
putting (135)–(136) into (83)–(84):
1 −1
u(x, t) = − xt (1 + F(z)), c2 (x, t) = qG(z). (137)
2c3
The functions F(z) and G(z) appearing in (137) are governed by the equations
FG
+ (γ − 1)GF
+ (γ − 1)z −1 FG + (1 + c3 )G
+ (γ − 1)z −1 G = 0, (138)

G
+ c9 z
2−n
n (1 + F) = 0. (139)
Elimination of F between (138) and (139) leads to
2n − 2 −1
1 c3 c9 2−n

GG

+ G
−
2
z GG + z n G = 0. (140)
n γ −1 γ −1
Multiplying (140) by z 2 and taking G(z) = H (s), s = log z Equation (140)
becomes
n−2 1 c3 c9 2 s

HH

+ HH
+ H
−
2
e n H = 0. (141)
n γ −1 γ −1
A solution of (141) is
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 121

c3 c9 2
H (s) =  e n s, (142)
2 1
(γ − 1) 1 +
nγ −1
and the corresponding solution of (140) is
c 3 c9 2
G(z) =  zn . (143)
2 1
(γ − 1) 1 +
nγ −1
Substituting (143) in (139), we find that
2c3
F(z) = −   − 1. (144)
2 1
n(γ − 1) 1 +
nγ −1
Putting (143)–(144) in (137) yields the following solution of (9)–(10):
1
u(x, t) =   xt −1 , (145)
2 1
n(γ − 1) 1 +
nγ −1
α
c2 (x, t) = −   t −1 x 2 . (146)
2 1
2n 1 +
nγ −1

9. A new nonlinear equation

If we eliminate u between (11) and (12) and use v = c2 , we have

1 (n − 1) 1
vt − vx2 − vvx − vvx x = 0. (147)
α(γ − 1) αx α
If we apply Lie’s classical method to (147) and seek it to be invariant under
v ∗ = v + V (t, x, v), t ∗ = t + T (t, x, v), x ∗ = x +  X (t, x, v), (148)
then we find that
x
V = a1 v, T = ct + d, X = (c + a1 ) . (149)
2
The Lie group generator L is
∂ ∂ ∂
L=X +T +V ,
∂x ∂t ∂v
   
x ∂ ∂ x ∂ ∂ ∂ (150)
L=c +t + a1 +v +d ,
2 ∂x ∂t 2 ∂x ∂v ∂t
122 P. L. Sachdev et al.

where we have used (149). Thus the Lie algebra of infinitesimal symmetries of
Equation (147) is spanned by the three vector fields
x ∂ ∂ x ∂ ∂ ∂
X1 = + t , X2 = + v , X3 = . (151)
2 ∂x ∂t 2 ∂x ∂v ∂t
The commutation relations between these vector fields are given by the
following table, the entry in row ‘i’ and column ‘j’ representing [X i , X j ]:
∗ X1 X2 X3
X1 0 0 −X 3
X2 0 0 0
X3 X3 0 0
The corresponding local one-parameter groups are the following:
 
σs1 1
G 1 : (x, t, v) → x exp s, t exp s, v ,
2
 
σs2 1 (152)
G 2 : (x, t, v) → x exp s, t, v exp s ,
2
σs3
G 3 : (x, t, v) → (x exp s, exp s, v),
j
where σ s = (exp(sX j )), 1 ≤ j ≤ 3. Because each local Lie group G j is a
symmetry group, exponentiation shows that if v = v(x, t) is a solution of
(147) then so are
x 
v 1 (x, t) = v exp(−s), t exp(−s) ,
2
x 
v 2 (x, t) = v exp(−s), t , (153)
2
v 3 (x, t) = v(x, exp(−s)).
We now construct below the solution of (147) for each of the infinitesimal
generators:
x ∂
Case (i): X 1 = 2 ∂x
+ t ∂t∂ .
Clearly X 1 = X 1 (x, t), X 1 (v) = 0. The invariant surface condition dt/t =
2d x/x = dv/0, when integrated give
x2
v = F(z), z= . (154)
t
Putting (154) in (147), we get
4
4zFF

+ 2nFF
+ z F
+ αz F
= 0.
2
(155)
γ −1
We obtain a regular perturbation solution of (155) by taking α = , 0 <  
1. Inserting
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 123

F(z) = F0 (z) +  F1 (z) +  2 F2 (z) + · · · ≈ F0 (z) +  F1 (z), (156)

into (155) with α = , and equating the powers of  0 and  1 to zero, we have
2n 4
4F0 F0

+ F0 F0
+ F0
= 0,
2
(157)
z γ −1
  2n   8
4 F0 F1

+ F1 F0

+ F0 F1
+ F1 F0
+ F0
F1
+ F0
= 0. (158)
z γ −1
A solution of (157)–(158) is
 
2k5 (2−n)/2 (γ −1)/γ
F0 (z) = z , (159)
2−n
 
(γ − 1)
F1 (z) = b1 z, b1 = − . (160)
2nγ − 2n + 4)
Inserting (160) and (159) to Equation (156), we have
 
2k5 (2−n)/2 (γ −1)/γ
F(z) = z + b1 z. (161)
2−n
Thus the corresponding solution of (147) with α = , namely, αvt −
1
v 2 − (n −x 1) vvx − vvx x = 0 is
(γ − 1) x
 (γ −1)/γ
2k5 (2−n) −(2−n)/2
v(x, t) = x t + b1 x 2 t −1 . (162)
2−n
Case (ii): X 2 = x2 ∂∂x + v ∂v
∂
. Here the similarity transformation is v =
x F(t), because t = z, and F satisfies
2

 

4 + 2n(γ − 1)
F − F 2 = 0. (163)
α(γ − 1)
Its solution is F(z) = 1/r t + s. The corresponding solution of (147) is
v(x, t) = x 2 (r t + s)−1 . (164)
∂
Case (iii): X 3 = ∂t
. In the present case, we have v = F(z), z = x and
1
zFF

+ (n − 1)FF
+ z F
= 0.
2
(165)
γ −1
A solution of (165) is
  (γ γ−1)
k1 2−n
F(z) = z + k2 . (166)
2−n
124 P. L. Sachdev et al.

The corresponding solution of (147) is

  (γ γ−1)
k1 2−n
v(x, t) = x + k2 . (167)
2−n
In the general case the invariant surface condition is
dt dx dv 1
= x = , c1 = (c + a1 ), (168)
ct + d (c + a1 ) a1 v 2
2
which when integrated yields
a1 (t + d/c)c1 /c
v = x c1 f (z), z= . (169)
x
Here F(z) is any solution of
 2  

1 2
2 1 a1 a1 a1 a1
z FF −
2
z F − + (n − 1) + −1 F2
γ −1 γ − 1 c1 c1 c1 c1
 
2a1 αc1 ac1 −1

+ + n + 1 zFF
+ z 1 F = 0. (170)
c1 (γ − 1) c
To solve (170) we consider the following simple cases:
Case 1: ac11 − 2 = 0. Equation (170) is changed by inserting F(z) = G(θ ),
θ = log z, to an Euler–Painlevé equation
1 αc1

GG

− G
+ (A2 − 1)GG
+ A1 G 2 +
2
G = 0, (171)
γ −1 c
where
 2  

1 a1 a1 a1 a1
A1 = − + (n − 1) + −1 ,
γ − 1 c1 c1 c1 c1
  (172)
2 a1
A2 = +n+1 .
γ − 1 c1
Case 2: Equation (170) is changed by inserting F(z) = G(θ), θ = log z, to
1 αc1 ( ac1 −1)θ

GG

− G
+ (A2 − 1)GG
+ A1 G 2 +
2
e 1 G = 0, (173)
γ −1 c
We proceed to determine a perturbation solution of (173) by taking α = , a
very small positive real number (See Daniel Zwillinger[17]). Writing
G(θ) = G 0 (θ ) + G 1 (θ ) +  2 G 2 (θ ) + · · · ≈ G 0 (θ) + G 1 (θ), (174)
into the Equation (173), with α = , and equating the coefficient of  0 and  1
to zero, we have
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 125

1
G 0 G

0 − G 2 + (A2 − 1)G 0 G
0 + A1 G 20 = 0, (175)
γ −1 0
2  
G 0 G

1 + G 1 G

0 − G
0 G
1 + (A2 − 1) G 0 G
1 + G 1 G
0 + 2A1 G 0 G 1
γ −1
c1 ( 1 −1)θ

a
+ e c1 G 0 = 0. (176)
c
Solving Equation (175) and we find that
G 0 = Ae Bθ , (177)

4A (γ −2)
(1−A2 )± (1−A2 )2 − 1γ −1
where A is arbitrary and B = 2(γ −2) , is a positive real number.
γ −1
Using (177), then the solution of (176) is
G 1 = l 3 e m 3 θ + l 4 e m 4 θ + k 3 e k4 θ , (178)
where l 3 , l 4 are arbitrary constants and
a1
k4 = − 1,
c1
   2
2B 2B
− (A2 − 1) + − (A2 − 1) − 4(B 2 − 2B − A2 B + 2A1 )
γ −1 γ −1
m3 = ,
2
   2
2B 2B
− (A2 − 1) − − (A2 − 1) − 4(B 2 − 2B − A2 B + 2A1 )
γ −1 γ −1
m4 = ,
2
   −1
c1 B 2 2B
k3 = − k4 + A2 − 1 − k4 + B − 2B + A2 B + 2A1
2
.
c γ −1
(179)
Then the solution of (173) is

G(θ) = Ae Bθ +  l3 em 3 θ + l4 em 4 θ + k3 ek4 θ , (180)
and the corresponding solution of (170) is
 a1 
−1
F(z) = Az B +  l3 z m 3 + l4 z m 4 + k3 z c1 , (181)

finally the solution of Equation (147) is

  B   m
a1 (t + d/c)c1 /c (t + d/c)c1 /c 3
v(x, t) = x c1
A +  l3
x x
 m   a1 −1 
(t + d/c)c1 /c 4 (t + d/c)c1 /c c1
+ l4 + k3 . (182)
x x
126 P. L. Sachdev et al.

10. Nonclassical symmetries of (147)

To apply the nonclassical method to (147) we require that (147) and the
invariant condition to be invariant under the infinitesimal generator. In the case
T = 0, without loss of generality, we may set T (x, t, v) = 1. The nonclassical
method applied to (147) gives rise to the following determining equations for
the infinitesimals
1
v X vv − X v = 0, (183)
γ −1
(n − 1) 1
Vt − vVx − vVx x + 2V X x − v −1 V 2 = 0. (184)
αx α
1 2(n − 1) 1
−2X X v − Vv − v X v − vVvv
α(γ − 1) αx α
2 1
+ X xv + v −1 V = 0, (185)
α α(γ − 1)
(n − 1) 2 (n − 1)
v X − X t + 2V X v − V x − v[Vv − X x ]
αx 2 α(γ − 1) αx
1 2(n − 1)
− v[2Vxv − X x x ] − v X x + v −1 X V = 0, (186)
α αx
Solving these equations, we obtain
 
1 + p1
T = 1, X = [ p1 t + p2 ]−1 x, V = [ p1 t + p2 ]−1 v. (187)
2
These infinitesimals are same as in the classical method.
A special case: Suppose V is a function of v only then it is easy to verify
that infinitesimals are
c1
T = 1, X = x, V = c1 v. (188)
2
Integrations of the invariant surface conditions
dt dx dv
= c x = . (189)
1 1 c1 v
2
give the similarity solution in the form
c1
v = x 2 F(z), z = log x t. (190)
2
This form of solution to (9) and (12) is new.
1 
u=− 2x F − x F
(z) . (191)
α(γ − 1)
 Large Time Asymptotics of Compressible Euler Equations 127

Putting (190) in (147), we get the equation for F(z) as

   

4 4 1 αc1

FF
+ F
+
2
FF + 2n + F + 2+n+
2
F = 0,
γ −1 γ −1 γ −1 2
(192)
which is an Euler–Painlevé equation.

11. Results and discussion

We have reduced the PDE (147) through the nonclassical similarity transformation
(190) to the ODE of the form
H

+ A1 H (1−γ )/γ H
+ A2 H
+ A3 H = 0. (193)
Interestingly the following PDEs
j r
ut + um u x + u − (at + bt jn/2 )−1 u x x = 0, (194)
2t 2
δ
vt + Av m vx + σ v − vx x = 0, (195)
2
also reduce through the respective similarity reductions
u = t −1/m (at + bt jn/2 )−1/n f (z),
 
c t jm/2−1
z=x− log , (196)
a( jm/2 − 1) a + bt jm/2−1
v = f (z), z = x − ct, (197)
to ODEs of the same form given in (193).
We generalized the Barenblatt solution (22)–(24) by solving the two systems
of nonlinear, coupled system of ODEs.
We remark that the series solution (45)–(47) of the system of nonlinear,
coupled equations (32), (33), and (34) is an exact asymptotic for large time.
We now infer the following facts from the two solutions (48)–(49) and
(55)–(56). We note that the former is a solution of (9) and (12) while the latter
is that of (9)–(10).
1. The dependence of u(x, t) on x and t is the same.
2. The coefficients of x2 in c2 (x, t) agree in form.
3. The coefficients of x0 in c2 (x, t), apart from ē(t), are entirely different.
Indeed it is evident that (49) contains an exponential of an exact series
while (56) includes only a series.
We prove that the large-time behaviors of solutions of the two systems
(9)–(10) and (11)–(12) are asymptotically equivalent by establishing the fact
128 P. L. Sachdev et al.

that the solutions of the two systems of ODEs (15)–(17) and (22)–(24) are
asymptotically equivalent for large time.
We also have obtained an exact closed form solutions (75)–(76) of the
nonlinear coupled system of ordinary differential equations (168)–(170) using
the invariance analysis.

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UNIVERSITY OF DELHI SOUTH CAMPUS

MADURAI KAMARAJ UNIVERSITY
MADURAI KAMARAJ UNIVERSITY
(Received August 21, 2007)