Thermo-kinetic connectivity by integrating thermo-kinetic correlation and generalized stability

•A negative driving force integrating strain energy, interface energy and any kind of energy that inhibits phase transformations was proposed.•Unified expressions of thermo-kinetic correlation and generalized stability were derived for different types of phase transformation.•A thermo-kinetic connectivity was achieved by similar thermo-kinetic correlation and generalized stability between phase transformations and plastic deformations.•A criterion of high driving force-high generalized stability was discussed to achieve structural materials with excellent strength-plasticity combinations.