An extended thermodynamic approach to non-Newtonian fluids and related results in Marangoni instability problem (Q1119076)

It is shown that extended irreversible thermodynamics provides a simple and coherent modelling of non-Newtonian fluids. The basic hypothesis underlying the present formalism is to raise the stress tensor to the status of independent variable. Restrictions are placed on the constitutive equations and the material coefficients by the second law of thermodynamics, stability of equilibrium and the objectivity principle. The general procedure is applied to derive the Reiner-Rivlin and Rivlin- Ericksen second-order fluids. As an illustration, Marangoni convection in a thin horizontal layer of a non-Newtonian fluid submitted to a temperature gradient and placed in a microgravity environment is treated.