The effects of nonlocality on the evolution of higher order fluxes in non-equilibrium thermodynamics

TL;DR

This paper explores how nonlocal effects influence the evolution of higher order fluxes in non-equilibrium thermodynamics, emphasizing the importance of entropy density and constitutive assumptions.

Contribution

It introduces a classification of extended thermodynamics models based on different levels of nonlocality and derives balance equations and closure relations.

Findings

Different nonlocality levels affect flux evolution

Local entropy density is crucial for thermodynamic consistency

Balance equations are obtained under specific assumptions

Abstract

The role of gradient dependent constitutive spaces is investigated on the example of Extended Thermodynamics of rigid heat conductors. Different levels of nonlocality are developed and the different versions of extended thermodynamics are classified. The local form of the entropy density plays a crucial role in the investigations. The entropy inequality is solved under suitable constitutive assumptions. Balance form of evolution equations is obtained in special cases. Closure relations are derived on a phenomenological level.