Neural networks are increasingly used in complex (data-driven) simulations as surrogates or for accelerating the computation of classical surrogates. In many applications physical constraints, such as mass or energy conservation, must be satisfied to obtain reliable results. However, standard machine learning algorithms are generally not tailored to respect such constraints.

We propose two different strategies to generate constraint-aware neural networks. We test their performance in the context of front-capturing schemes for strongly nonlinear wave motion in compressible fluid flow. Precisely in this context so-called Riemann problems have to be solved as surrogates. Their solution describes the local dynamics of the captured wave front in numerical simulations. Three model problems are considered: a cubic flux model problem, an isothermal two-phase flow model, and the Euler equations. We observe, that constraint-aware neural networks do not only account for the constraint but lead to an improvement of the numerical accuracy of the overall fluid simulation. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.