Optimal system and approximate solutions of nonlinear dissipative media

In this paper, the problem of approximate symmetries of a class of nonlinear wave equations with a small nonlinear dissipation has been investigated. In order to compute the first‐order approximate symmetry, we have applied the method that was proposed by Valenti basically based on the expansion of the dependent variables in perturbation series but removing the drawback of the impossibility to work in hierarchy in calculating symmetries. The algebraic structure of the approximate symmetries is discussed, an optimal system of one‐dimensional subalgebras is defined and constructed, and, finally, some invariant solutions corresponding to the resulted symmetries are obtained.