Thermal Relaxation Effects on Stability Thresholds: A Comparative Analysis of Thermoelastic Timoshenko-Boltzmann Systems Under Fourier and Cattaneo Laws

Abstract

This paper explores stability dichotomies of thermoelastic Timoshenko-Boltzmann systems with hereditary memory, comparing Fourier's parabolic (no thermal relaxation) and Cattaneo's hyperbolic (with thermal relaxation) heat conduction via semigroup theory and spectral analysis. The Fourier-semigroup achieves exponential stability through the $δ$-condition plus a specific parameter condition, while sole $δ$-condition ensures $1/2$-order polynomial stability. The Cattaneo-semigroup retains this polynomial stability but requires a thermal relaxation-included modified parameter condition for exponential stability. As thermal relaxation time approaches zero, Cattaneo's modified parameter converges to Fourier's, formalizing their asymptotic connection. Results show thermal relaxation alters exponential criteria but preserves polynomial decay, supporting stability analysis under time-dependent thermal loading in structural mechanics.