Framework

This chapter is dedicated to a new thermodynamic framework, which is the main result of this book. This framework offers a robust and secure environment for the design of new models or the combination of some existing models. The design of mathematical models based on thermodynamic principles structurally avoids common errors that are otherwise difficult to identify and could have disastrous consequences. For instance, the use of inappropriate dissipation potential could result in an unexpected divergence of simulation codes: instead of spending years looking for a hypothetical programming bug, a direct design of models from such a thermodynamic framework appears to be a good alternative.