| Abstrakt: |
The maximum dissipation thermodynamic description of time-dependent non-equilibrium behavior, in general, depends on both a generalized energy and a generalized entropy production function that are defined on non-equilibrium states. The idea of conjugate variables underlying the construction of these functions is not exploited in continuum thermodynamics. The difficulties that arise in continuum thermodynamics from allowing energies to depend on fluxes are resolved in the construction proposed here by restricting flux dependence only to the entropy production function. The maximum dissipation construction then provides a thermodynamic foundation for realistic finite velocity of propagation flux evolution equations, in contrast to other empirical models. Further, the maximum dissipation postulate selects a particular non-equilibrium process from all the processes consistent with the second law and so supplements the incomplete second law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
