ETH Polymer Physics seminar


2012-01-25
10:15 at HCI J 574

Theory of spacetime elasticity

Andrei Gusev

Polymer Physics, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich

We present the theory of spacetime elasticity and demonstrate that it involves traditional thermoelasticity. Assuming linear-elastic constitutive behavior and using spacetime transversely-isotropic elastic constants, we derive all principal thermodynamic relations of classical thermoelasticity. We introduce the spacetime principle of virtual work, and use it to derive the equations of motion for both reversible and dissipative thermoelastic dynamics. We show that spacetime elasticity directly implies the Fourier and the Maxwell-Cattaneo laws of heat conduction. However, spacetime elasticity is richer than classical thermoelasticity, and it advocates its own equations of motion for coupled thermoelasticity, complemented by the spectrum of boundary and interface conditions. We argue that the presented framework of spacetime elasticity should prove adequate for describing the thermoelastic phenomena occurring at low temperatures, for interpreting the results of molecular simulations of heat conduction in solids, and also for the optimal heat and stress management in the microelectronic components and the thermoelectric devices.


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