The HLLC Riemann solver

Abstract

The HLLC (Harten–Lax–van Leer contact) approximate Riemann solver for computing solutions to hyperbolic systems by means of finite volume and discontinuous Galerkin methods is reviewed. HLLC was designed, as early as 1992, as an improvement to the classical HLL (Harten–Lax–van Leer) Riemann solver of Harten, Lax, and van Leer to solve systems with three or more characteristic fields, in order to avoid the excessive numerical dissipation of HLL for intermediate characteristic fields. Such numerical dissipation is particularly evident for slowly moving intermediate linear waves and for long evolution times. High-order accurate numerical methods can, to some extent, compensate for this shortcoming of HLL, but it is a costly remedy and for stationary or nearly stationary intermediate waves such compensation is very difficult to achieve in practice. It is therefore best to resolve the problem radically, at the first-order level, by choosing an appropriate numerical flux. The present paper is a review of the HLLC scheme, starting from some historical notes, going on to a description of the algorithm as applied to some typical hyperbolic systems, and ending with an overview of some of the most significant developments and applications in the last 25 years.