From the reviews:
The author presents his construction of a geometric model for non-equilibrium thermodynamics and his maximum dissipation criterion which is assumed to complement the second law of thermodynamics. ... the author explores different concrete situations where his construction of a maximum dissipation criterion may be applied. ... This book will be interesting for researchers involved either in applied mathematics or in mechanics. (Alain Brillard, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1222, 2011)
History of Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics.- Energy Methods.- Evolution Construction for Homogeneous Thermodynamic Systems.- Viscoelasticity.- Viscoplasticity.- The Thermodynamic Relaxation Modulus as a Multi-scale Bridge from the Atomic Level to the Bulk Material.- Contact Geometric Structure for Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics. Bifurcations in the Generalized Energy Function.- Evolution Construction for Non-homogeneous Thermodynamic Systems.- Electromagnetism and Joule Heating.- Fracture.