Close-to-Fourier heat conduction equation of solids of constant mass density (Q2464558)

The authors study the second law of thermodynamics systematically using Liu's procedure. The analysis involves the use of Fourier's expression for the heat flux density and the minimal state spanned by the temperature and its gradient. The differential equations for the specific internal energy, the specific entropy, the heat flux density, and the entropy flux density are coupled. It has been shown that the close-to-Fourier heat conduction equation is hyperbolic beyond thermostatic limit. This is interesting, as it eliminates one of the shortcomings of the Fourier heat conduction equation.