Let $\Omega$ be a bounded domain of class $C^2$ in $ℝ$N and let $K$ be a compact subset of $\partial \Omega$. Assume that $q\ge (N+1)/\left(N-1\right)$ and denote by $U_K$ the maximal solution of $-\Delta u+u^q=0$ in $\Omega$ which vanishes on $\partial \Omega \setminus K$. We obtain sharp upper and lower estimates for $U_K$ in terms of the Bessel capacity $C_{2/q,q^{\text{'}}}$ and prove that $U_K$ is $\sigma$-moderate. In addition we describe the precise asymptotic behavior of $U_K$ at points $\sigma \in K$, which depends on the “density” of $K$ at $\sigma$, measured in terms of the capacity $C_{2/q,q^{\text{'}}}$.

Sufficient and necessary conditions for the existence and uniqueness of classical solutions to the Cauchy problem for the scalar conservation law are found in the class of discontinuous initial data and non-convex flux function. Regularity of rarefaction waves starting from discontinuous initial data and their dependence on the flux function are investigated and illustrated in a few examples.