A Scheme for the Numerical Solution of Hyperbolic Systems of Conservation Laws

A method is described for the numerical solution of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws in one space dimension. The basis of the scheme is to use finite differences where the solution is smooth and the method of characteristics where the solution is not smooth. The method can accurately represent shocks. Results are presented for the solution of the equations of gas dynamics. The examples illustrate the accuracy of the method when discontinuities are present and the code's performance on difficult problems of interacting shocks and shock formation.