The Principle of Least Dissipation of Energy

Abstract

In a way similar to the derivation of the fundamental equations of mechanics and electrodynamics from the wellknown variational principles (d’Alembert principle, Gauss’ principle of the least constraint, which are differential principles) or from variational principles as understood in a closer sense (Maupertuis’ principle of the least action and particularly the Hamilton principle, which are integral principles), the fundamental equations of thermodynamics can be all-embraced with a single variational principle as well. This principle was originally formulated by Onsager, and was called: the principle of least dissipation of energy [22]. The first formulation of this principle was restricted to the particular case of heat conduction in anisotropic continua, and no considerable generalization was attained, when in 1953 Onsager and Machlup [46], and after then in 1957 Tisza and Manning [47] extended the validity of the principle for the case of adiabatically isolated, non-continuous systems. Formulation of the principle for the above-mentioned particular cases meant a limitation, by which up to now the general development and widespread practical application of the principle was hindered.KeywordsVariational PrincipleEntropy ProductionMinimum PrincipleLocal ConstraintUniversal PrincipleThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.