THERMODYNAMICS OF THE MICROFRACTURE PROCESS IN POLYMERS.

A polymer body subjected to statically applied mechanical and thermal actions, in which microfracture process proceeds is considered. The microfracture is examined as first stage of the fracture process. The microfracture process is described with the nonlinear thermodynamics of the irreversible processes. The irreversible changes are described by aid of the internal state variables, and a special tensor of the microdamages is introduced. The microfracture is considered as a complex process comprising different interconnectred processes - mechanical, thermal, diffusion, chemical.