Gradient-dependent heat rectification in thermoelastic solids

We study heat rectification by means of application of an inhomogeneous distribution of a tensile mechanical stress in: (a) graded thermoelastic systems with constant cross section; (b) non-graded thermoelastic systems with variable cross section. In both cases the thermal conductivity of the material may be partially tuned by the internal strain produced by the application of transversal mechanical stress. We calculate the rectification...