Physical analogy between continuum thermodynamics and classical mechanics.

The main focus of this paper is the profound physical analogy between a continuum thermodynamical system, which evolves with relaxation under (possibly) nonisothermal conditions, and a classical mechanical system of a few interacting particles moving with dissipation in (possibly), time-dependent nonconservative fields. This analogy is applied to the problem of phase transitions in a one-dimensional thermodynamic system. The thermomechanical analogy stems from the validity of variational methods in mechanics and thermodynamics and allows for a different interpretation of the dynamical selection principle in the theory of pattern formation. This physical analogy is very helpful for understanding different nonlinear thermodynamic phenomena and for developing intuition in numerical simulations.