A new interpretation of internal-variable theory in finite thermo-viscoelasticity

Based on the non-equilibrium thermodynamics, an internal- variable theory in thermo-viscoelasticity at finite deformation was proposed by Huang in 1999. In this theory, a modified stretch of the molecular chain was introduced, and hence the molecular network model in rubber elasticity was extended to take into account the viscous and thermal effects of the material. The viscous dissipation of the material can then be described by means of these internal variables, which appear in the expression of the modified stretch. In order to give a clearer explanation on the physical implication of the internal variables, a connection between the internal-variable theory and theoretical formulation based on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient in existing literature is presented in this paper, which allows the above internal-variable theory to be more systematic.