Non-holonomic constraints: Considerations on the least action principle also from a thermodynamic viewpoint

Abstract

For the system with non-holonomic constraints, the principle of least action does not seem to lead to the equations describing the motion, which are consistent with the physical behaviour. Here, some considerations are developed on this fundamental topic in Mathematical Physics. Moreover, a thermodynamic approach is introduced based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics.

Keywords

• Analytical mechanics
• Rational mechanics
• Non-holonomic constraints
• Least action