Thermodynamic extremal principle and its application to Dufour and Soret effects and plasticity

Abstract

An extremal principle is formulated for thermodynamic systems near equilibrium subjected to various external conditions. It is shown that the principle describes unambiguously the kinetics of the thermodynamic system and replaces classical phenomenological equations. Thus the principle can be considered as an effective tool for the treatment of non-equilibrium thermodynamic systems. In two examples the principle is used for the description of Dufour and Soret effects and plasticity.