Free energies and dissipation properties for systems with memory (Q1322049)

The constitutive relation (C.R.) \(T(t)= G_ 0 E(t)+ \int^ \infty_ 0 G'(s)) E^ t(s)ds\), describing the linear viscoelastic materials is made of a thoroughly analysis, and new important results are obtained by observing that, under some conditions, (C.R.) may be written in the form (C.R.)' \(T(t)= G_ 0 E(t)+ {2\over\pi} \int^ \infty_ 0 G_ s' (\omega) E^ t_ s(\omega) d\omega\), where the subscript \(s\) denotes the half-range Fourier-sine transform. Thermodynamics implies the symmetry of the instantaneous elastic modulus \(G_ 0\) and of the equilibrium elastic modulus \(G_ \infty= \lim_{s\to\infty} G(s)>0\). The second law of thermodynamics gives no condition for the definiteness of the Boltzmann modulus \(G'\) but requires that (*) \(G_ s'(\omega)<0\), \(\omega>0\) holds for cyclic processes [\textit{M. Fabrizio} and \textit{A. Morro}, J. Elasticity 19, 63-75 (1988; Zbl 0661.73019)], which implies the positive-definiteness of \(G_ 0\), more precisely \(G_ 0> G_ \infty>0\). Assuming that (*) holds if \(G'\in L^ 1(\mathbb{R}^ +)\) (then it is shown that (*) is a consequence of a new version of the second law), the authors define firstly a history space \({\mathcal H}\), where \(G_ s'\) enters the definition of the norm on \({\mathcal H}\) as a constitutive influence function that accounts naturally for the memory properties of the material. Then, an enlarged history space \({\mathcal H}_ M\) is introduced, via a weight tensor function \(M\in{\mathcal H}\) on \([0,\infty)\), that allows for oscillating histories. The corresponding norm on \({\mathcal H}_ M\) involves an influence function through \(G_ s'\) and \(M\). The notion of free-energy functional relative to (C.R.) is defined, and the existence of the free-energy functionals on \({\mathcal H}\) is proved. The second law of thermodynamics implies the existence of free-energy functionals for materials with fading memory [\textit{B. D. Coleman} and \textit{D. R. Owen}, Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 54, 1-104 (1974; Zbl 0306.73004)]. For each \(M\), a continuous functional \(\psi_ m\) on \({\mathcal H}_ M\) is determined, satisfying the characteristic properties of free- energy functionals. The detailed thermodynamic analysis of linear viscoelastic materials based on cyclic processes and the concepts developed in the first part of the paper emphasize that a satisfactory continuum thermodynamic theory should exhibit constitutive functionals and an associated topology on the space of states guaranteeing the continuity of constitutive functionals. In the last part of the paper, the authors propose a scheme for the thermodynamics of simple materials satisfying these requirements. The purpose is attained by an appropriate formulation of a dissipation principle and a statement of the second law involving arbitrary, not necessarily cyclic, processes. The topology of the state space is defined by using a weaker form of fading-memory property, which, in particular, holds for free-energy functionals \(\psi_ M\). Some Lyapunov-type properties of motion are obtained for linear viscoelastic materials by using the continuity of the free-energy functional \(\psi_ M\), which may be employed as Lyapunov functional. Finally, the thermodynamic properties of viscoelastic meterials of single-integral type [\textit{M. E. Gurtin} and \textit{W. J. Hrusa}, Q. Appl. Math. 49, No. 1, 67-85 (1991; Zbl 0747.73006)] are analyzed in the light of authors' theory. In the reviewer's opinion, this paper represents an important contribution to the continuum thermodynamics.