Maximizing thermodynamic efficiency by controlling conditions at the boundary (Q1820612)

Within the framework of linear and one-dimensional thermoelasticity, it is shown that processes whose efficiencies approximate the theoretical Carnot-type bounds arbitrarily closely do exist; it is also shown that such processes must be performed quasi-statically, and can be driven by controlling merely displacements and temperature at the boundary, rather than by body forces and/or heat supplies.