Thermoelastic wave and front propagation

The propagation of thermoelastic waves and phase-transition fronts is considered in a unified manner on the basis of thermodynamic consistency conditions following from the thermodynamics of discrete systems. Distinct consistency conditions are used in the bulk (for thermoelastic waves) and at the phase boundary (where entropy is produced). It is shown that the thermodynamic consistency conditions in the bulk lead to the well-established numerical schemes. Examples of the propagation of two-dimensional thermoelastic waves in media with rapidly varying properties (e.g., in functionally graded materials) are presented. The criterion of initiation of the phase transformation process is obtained by simultaneously satisfying both consistency conditions at the phase boundary. The comparison with the experimental investigations of the impact-induced martensitic phase transformation is also given.