A non-equilibrium thermodynamic geometric structure for thermoviscoplasticity with maximum dissipation

A maximum dissipation principle induces a class of viscoplastic evolution equations within a non-linear, non-equilibrium thermodynamic structure which extends Gibbs thermostatics. The evolution of a relaxation process is determined through non-linear affinities, which generalize the linear Onsager construct, along with the maximum dissipation principle and the long term states. The relaxation modulus is the norm of the plastic strain rate. Forced processes, in which the control variables change with time, are assumed to be relaxation processes at each instant. This class of thermoviscoplastic models includes the three-dimensional Freed–Chaboche–Walker model in which the internal state variables are the back stress, the drag strength and the elastic yield strength for creep initiation.