On the modelling of dissipative processes (Q2754447)

There exist materials which, when subject to specific processes of deformation, change their underlying natural configuration. In this paper the author discusses a framework that takes into account the fact that a variety of natural configuration are accessed by the body during the process. The way in which the natural configuration evolves depends on the manner in which the material dissipates energy. For a certain class of processes the assumption that the rate of dissipation has to be maximized leads to response characteristics that agree with experimental results. Such an assumption has been used by the author and coworkers to study a large class of material response that includes twinning, shape memory transformations, plasticity, crystallization of polymers, and anisotropic liquids. The paper presents the salient elements of the theory. A detailed analysis will be presented in a future paper.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0961.00018].