On the symmetric form of systems of conservation laws with entropy
The present investigation has the objective to review the general structure of system of conservation laws with entropy, giving particular attention to a presentation of symmetric formulations of the equations of gas dynamics. Systems of hyperbolic conservation laws are considered, taking into account the case in which a system of equations is symmetric hyperbolic, questions of symmetrization, and entropy functions. The Euler equations for a polytropic gas in conservation form are considered. The symmetric form retains the conservation properties of the equations. Weak solutions remain, therefore, unchanged. Of particular computational interest is the possibility of using the symmetric form.