Based on the results of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics and cybernetical physics new nonlocal hydrodynamic approach was proposed to describe processes far from equilibrium. Identification of the interrelationships between the concepts of spatiotemporal correlations in the thermodynamic relationships obtained by Zubarev and the system internal structure made it possible to describe the self-organization of new dynamic structures in the system under external influence and to define the structure element’s size. Since the information-control feedback between the structure evolution and macroscopic reaction appears far from equilibrium, the structure evolution is described by methods of the control theory of adaptive systems. The proposed approach to the structure evolution allows a new insight into the system state stability.
As an example, the proposed approach was used to describe high-rate shear flow in the known Couette formulation. It is shown that the shear flow with slight nonlocal effects remains stable. As the velocity grows a meta-stable state arises where the system evolution can change its direction and further give rise turbulent structures. Then near the boundaries there appear layers where continuum mechanics becomes invalid and new integral models adequately describe the flow.