Exact solutions of Euler equations of ideal gasdynamics via Lie group analysis

Abstract

In this paper, we explicitly characterize a class of solutions to the first order quasilinear system of partial differential equations (PDEs), governing one dimensional unsteady planar and radially symmetric flows of an adiabatic gas involving shock waves. For this, Lie group analysis is used to identify a finite number of generators that leave the given system of PDEs invariant. Out of these generators, two commuting generators are constructed involving some arbitrary constants. With the help of canonical variables associated with these two generators, the assigned system of PDEs is reduced to an autonomous system, whose simple solutions provide non trivial solutions of the original system. It is interesting to remark that one of the special solutions obtained here, using this approach, is precisely the blast wave solution known in the literature. © 2008 Birkhaeuser.