Gradient dynamics and entropy production maximization

TL;DR

This paper compares gradient dynamics and entropy production maximization, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations in modeling irreversible thermodynamic processes.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of gradient dynamics and entropy production maximization, clarifying their roles and effectiveness in thermodynamic modeling.

Findings

Gradient dynamics offers a geometric interpretation of thermodynamic evolution.

Entropy production maximization effectively predicts constitutive relations.

Both approaches have unique advantages and limitations.

Abstract

Gradient dynamics describes irreversible evolution by means of a dissipation potential, which leads to several advantageous features like Maxwell--Onsager relations, distinguishing between thermodynamic forces and fluxes or geometrical interpretation of the dynamics. Entropy production maximization is a powerful tool for predicting constitutive relations in engineering. In this paper, both approaches are compared and their shortcomings and advantages are discussed.