Thermodynamic hierarchies of evolution equations.

Non-equilibrium thermodynamics with internal variables introduces a natural hierarchical arrangement of evolution equations. Three examples are shown: a hierarchy of linear constitutive equations in thermodynamic rheology with a single internal variable, a hierarchy of wave equations in the theory of generalized continua with dual internal variables, and a hierarchical arrangement of the Fourier equation in the theory of heat conduction with current multipliers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]