Tensorial description of the transformation kinetics during phase transitions

A local examination at the phase boundary of nonhydrostatically stressed so lids leads to a description of the driving force of the phase transformatio n based on a tensorial valve, the chemical potential tensor. Using this for mulation, a tensorial description of the kinetics of the phase transformati on has been developed. Homogenization techniques have been applied to develop a formulation for a heterogenous body. The homogenized chemical potential and the variable desc ribing the transformation kinetics are both tensors. The latter holds not o nly the scalar information of the change of the mass fraction but also of t he orientation of the interfaces. A finite element implementation of the co ncept with special emphasis on necessary experimental investigations for th e identification of the material parameters is presented.