In order to understand the phenomenon of reversible plasticity exhibited by shape memory alloys and other smart materials, we study an elementary prototypical model. Building on an original idea of Müller and Villaggio [17], we consider an inhomogeneous ensemble of bi-stable elements connected in series and loaded in a soft device. To interpret the fine structure of the hysteresis loops observe...

The well-known definition of disease, which Samuel Hahnemann presented while making a challenge to provide a tentative theory for his new science and art of healing, is used as a starting point for the model. The biochemical equilibrium is used for a demonstration of the Le Chatelier–Braun principle and/or the Guldberg–Waage Law in order to clarify the principles and to explain the well-known “...

The effect of shock indentation on the formation and propagation Portevin-Le Chatelier deformation bands in an aluminum-magnesium alloy was studied experimentally using acoustic emission high-speed video recording methods. Dynamic nonlinear responses to are revealed: first include high values dynamic hardness local strain loading rates, second - threshold multiple nature force responses. It is ...

A thermodynamics of open systems has been developed which provides an entirely new theoretical framework based on novel concepts without any recourse to statistical mechanics, The standard chemical potential is replaced by a convective potential itself derived from a new concept referred to as the “thermobaric potential”. Entropy convected by addition of masses into an open system is obtained u...