Thermodynamic extensions of Miner's rule to chemical cells

Abstract

Miner's rule of cumulative damage for materials undergoing stress-strain cycles allows for the prediction of the number of cycles of different strengths required before a material fails. Since Miner's rule has a thermodynamics basis, the rule should extend to thermodynamic work variables other than stress and strain. This point is illustrated in this work by applying the rule to chemical cells in a battery where the thermodynamic work variables are the electromotive force and the charge. Miner's rule of cumulative damage in chemical cells (undergoing voltage-charge and voltage-discharge cycles) allows for the prediction of the number of cycles of different strengths required before a battery fails.