Weak solutions and weak-strong uniqueness for a thermodynamically consistent phase-field model (Q2083981)

Summary: In this paper, we prove the existence of weak solutions for a thermodynamically consistent phase-field model introduced in [\textit{M. Frémond}, Non-smooth thermomechanics. Berlin: Springer (2002; Zbl 0990.80001)] in two and three dimensions of space. We use a notion of solution inspired by [\textit{E. Feireisl}, Comput. Math. Appl. 53, No. 3--4, 461--490 (2007; Zbl 1122.76075)], where the pointwise internal energy balance is replaced by the total energy inequality complemented with a weak form of the entropy inequality. Moreover, we prove the existence of local-in-time strong solutions and, finally, we show weak-strong uniqueness of solutions, meaning that every weak solution coincides with a local strong solution emanating from the same initial data, as long as the latter exists.