Second-gradient theory: Application to Cahn-Hilliard fluids
Pierre Seppecher · Kluwer Academic Publishers eBooks · 2006
The second gradient theory is indispensable for describing a particular class of materials: when the energy depends on the second gradient of the displacement. We show that trying to overcome the difficulty by using extended thermodynamics is similar to trying to describe a linear elastic material without invoking the Cauchy stress tensor. We illustrate the principal features of second gradient theory with the example of Cahn-Hilliard fluids.