The homogeneous field approximation of classical thermodynamics (Q1106027)

The author examines the possible derivation of upper bounds on the work done by a body within the framework of linear thermoelasticity for a specific geometry and under particular assumptions on the displacement and the temperature fields. The homogeneous field approximation predicts that the applied surface load can be adjusted in a manner such that the work done by the body in a period takes any assigned value. By contrast, the author shows that in the field theory setting this work is bounded above as a function of the applied load, at least for a certain range of frequencies on the data and the solution.