Rational thermodynamics

Rational thermodynamics is a school of thought in statistical thermodynamics developed in the 1960s. Its introduction is attributed to Clifford Truesdell, Bernard Coleman [fr] and Walter Noll.^[1]^[2] The aim was to develop a mathematical model of thermodynamics that would go beyond the traditional "thermodynamics of irreversible processes" or TIP developed in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Truesdell's "flamboyant style" and "satirical verve" caused controversy between "rational thermodynamics" and proponents of traditional thermodynamics.^[3]

^ Serrin, J. (2005). "An Appreciation of Clifford Truesdell". The Rational Spirit in Modern Continuum Mechanics. pp. 31–38. doi:10.1007/1-4020-2308-1_4. ISBN 1-4020-1828-2.
^ Ball, J. M.; James, R. D. (2002). "The Scientific Life and Influence of Clifford Ambrose Truesdell III" (PDF). Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis. 161: 1–26. Bibcode:2002ArRMA.161....1B. doi:10.1007/s002050100178.
^ Müller, Ingo (2007). A History of Thermodynamics: the Doctrine of Energy and Entropy. Springer. "Truesdell’s outspoken partisanship of rational thermodynamics and his flamboyant style fuelled some lively controversies between adherents of TIP and the protagonists of rational thermodynamics, chiefly Truesdell himself. His attacks on Onsagerism were advanced with much satirical verve, that makes them fun to read for those who were not targeted. However, the defenders of TIP tried their best to pay Truesdell back in his own coin. Woods pointed out some awkward features of rational thermodynamics in a paper entitled 'The bogus axioms of continuum mechanics'."

[1] Serrin, J. (2005). "An Appreciation of Clifford Truesdell". The Rational Spirit in Modern Continuum Mechanics. pp. 31–38. doi:10.1007/1-4020-2308-1_4. ISBN 1-4020-1828-2.

[2] Ball, J. M.; James, R. D. (2002). "The Scientific Life and Influence of Clifford Ambrose Truesdell III" (PDF). Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis. 161: 1–26. Bibcode:2002ArRMA.161....1B. doi:10.1007/s002050100178.

[3] Müller, Ingo (2007). A History of Thermodynamics: the Doctrine of Energy and Entropy. Springer. "Truesdell’s outspoken partisanship of rational thermodynamics and his flamboyant style fuelled some lively controversies between adherents of TIP and the protagonists of rational thermodynamics, chiefly Truesdell himself. His attacks on Onsagerism were advanced with much satirical verve, that makes them fun to read for those who were not targeted. However, the defenders of TIP tried their best to pay Truesdell back in his own coin. Woods pointed out some awkward features of rational thermodynamics in a paper entitled 'The bogus axioms of continuum mechanics'."

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