Nonequilibrium thermodynamic foundation of the grand-potential phase field model

Abstract

Choosing the correct free energy functional is critical when developing thermodynamically consistent phase field models. We show that the grand-potential phase field model minimizes the Helmholtz free energy when mass conservation is imposed. While both functionals are at a minimum at equilibrium, the Helmholtz free energy decreases monotonically with time in the grand-potential phase field model, whereas the grand potential does not. Minimizing the grand potential implies a different problem where a system can exchange mass with its surroundings at every point, leading to a condition of isochemical potential and invalidating mass conservation of the system.

References in corpus (3)

• Quantitative Phase Field Model for Electrochemical Systems
• A computationally efficient and mechanically compatible multi-phase-field model applied to coherently stressed three-phase solids
• Grand-potential phase field simulations of droplet growth and sedimentation in a two-phase ternary fluid

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Solid-State Dewetting of Polycrystalline Thin Films: a Phase Field Approach