The obstacle-mass constraint problem for hyperbolic conservation laws. Solvability

Abstract: In this work we introduce the obstacle-mass constraint problem for a multidimensional scalar hyperbolic conservation law. We prove existence of an entropy solution to this problem by a penalization/viscosity method. The mass constraint introduces a nonlocal Lagrange multiplier in the penalized equation, giving rise to a nonlocal parabolic problem. We determine conditions on the initial data and on the obstacle function which ensure global in time existence of solution. These are not smoothness conditions, but relate to the propagation of the support of the initial data.