Multiphase thermomechanics with interfacial structure. I: Heat conduction and the capillary balance law (Q757118)

In two previous papers [Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 96, 199-241 (1986; Zbl 0654.73008) and 100, 275-312 (1988; Zbl 0673.73007)] the author initiated a nonequilibrium thermodynamics theory of two-phase continua by using the dynamical statements of thermomechanical laws and the Gibbs's notion of a sharp phase-interface endowed with energy and entropy. In this study the author derives the theory of two-phase continua by adding to the physical laws of energy and growth of entropy the balance of capillary forces, as an independent postulate. The mathematical expression of this postulate has the form \(\int_{\partial c}C\nu +\int_{c}\pi =0\), where c is an arbitrary subsurface of the interfaces, \(\nu\) is the outward unit normal to the boundary curve \(\partial c\) of c, C(x,t) is the capillary stress, and \(\pi\) (x,t) is a vector field characterizing the interaction between interface and the bulk material. The considerations are limited to nondeformable bodies in the absence of diffusion. The addition of diffusion is elementary and the extension of the theory to deformable bodies is made by the author and \textit{A. Struthers} [see this Zbl 0723.73018]. After presentation of primitive quantities and the laws of the theory, the author obtains the constitutive equations and thermodynamic restrictions of a two-phase continuum. In the last part of the paper are derived the general free boundary problem for temperature, approximate interface conditions, free boundary problems for weak interfaces, and the case of perfect conductors is considered, i.e. materials with infinite thermal conductivity. The paper constitutes an important contribution to the thermodynamics of multiphase continua with interfacial structure being the first paper in a series of three studies dedicated to this subject [see the following entries (Zbl 0723.73017; Zbl 0723.73018)].