A simple example for comparing GENERIC with rational non-equilibrium thermodynamics

During the last 15 years a bracket formalism of dissipative continuum physi cs has been developed which resulted in a formulation which is shortly deno ted as GENERIC. GENERIC has been applied to different problems of continuum thermodynamics, often in this way, that a well-known problem was reformula ted in GENERIC formalism. To learn some more about the GENERIC procedure we consider a gas which is contained in a cylinder closed by a piston moving with friction. We treat this simple discrete system with rational non-equil ibrium thermodynamics by using Liu's procedure and, for comparison, also wi th the GENERIC formalism. Both different procedures yield in the same resul ts, especially in the same entropy production. Differences, similarities an d fundamental presuppositions of both formalisms are discussed and compared . (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.