Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics of non-equilibrium damage phenomena

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the applicability of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics to non-equilibrium damage phenomena. As an example, a fiber-bundle model with thermal noise and a fiber-bundle model with decay of fibers are considered. Initially we develop an analogy of the Gibbs formalism for nonequilibrium states. Later we switch from the approach of non-equilibrium states to the approach of non-equilibrium paths. Fluctuating behavior in the system is described in terms of effective temperature parameters. An equation of state and an analog of an energy-balance equation are obtained. Also the formalism of the free energy potential is developed. For fluctuations of paths in the system the statistical distribution is found to be Gaussian.