An approximate Riemann solver for sensitivity equations with discontinuous solutions

The sensitivity of a model output (called a variable) to a parameter can be defined as the partial derivative of the variable with respect to the parameter. When the governing equations are not differentiable with respect to this parameter, problems arise in the numerical solution of the sensitivity equations, such as locally infinite values or instability. An approximate Riemann solver is thus proposed for direct sensitivity calculation for hyperbolic systems of conservation laws in the presence of discontinuous solutions. The proposed approach uses an extra source term in the form of a Dirac function to restore sensitivity balance across the shocks. It is valid for systems such as the Euler equations for gas dynamics or the shallow water equations for free surface flow. The method is first detailed and its application to the shallow water equations is proposed, with some test cases such as dike- or dam-break problems with or without source terms. An application to a two-dimensional flow problem illustrates the superiority of direct sensitivity calculation over the classical empirical approach.