9301158 Gurtin This research concerns the further development of the general theory and the analysis of specific models of nonequilibrium thermomechanics of multiphase continua. The following studies are planned: i) the development of a dynamical theory of incoherent phase transitions, with emphasis on surface stress; ii) the development of general theory of highly nonequilibrium phase transitions driven by mass transport, with emphasis on the construction of models for solute tapping; iii) the analysis of models that generalize motion by curvature; these models include crystal anisotropy and yield a dynamical theory of crystal growth; iv) the analysis of general Stephan problems that allow for superheating and supercooling, with emphasis on nucleations. ***
