Edge Debonding in Peeling of a Thin Flexible Plate From an Elastomer Layer: A Cohesive Zone Model Analysis

Abstract

A cohesive zone modeling (CZM) approach with a bilinear traction-separation relation is used to study the peeling of a thin overhanging plate from the edge of an incompressible elastomeric layer bonded firmly to a stationary rigid base. The deformations are approximated as plane strain and the materials are assumed to be linearly elastic, homogeneous, and isotropic. Furthermore, governing equations for the elastomer deformations are simplified using the lubrication theory approximations, and those of the plate with the Kirchhoff-Love theory. It is found that the peeling is governed by a single nondimensional number defined in terms of the interfacial strength, the interface fracture energy, the plate bending rigidity, the elastomer shear modulus, and the elastomeric layer thickness. An increase in this nondimensional number monotonically increases the CZ size ahead of the debond tip, and the pull-off force transitions from a fracture energy to strength dominated regime. This finding is supported by the results of the boundary value problem numerically studied using the finite element method. Results reported herein could guide elastomeric adhesive design for load capacity and may help ascertain test configurations for extracting the strength and the fracture energy of an interface from test data.

Buckling of elastic structures under tensile loads

“…This means that for the cohesive zone model used in [13], the maximum normal debonding stress during uplift,σ , at which interface damage starts, and the Griffith' energy release rates for mode I , G c I , and for mode II, G c II , respectively, have to be varied appropriately. For more advanced cohesive zone models for simulating debonding of the film from the substrate, see [27]. Figure 21 shows, from simulation and experimental results, what happens if the global stretch approaches the critical value and surpasses it.…”

Effect of confinement and interfacial adhesion on peeling of a flexible plate from an elastomeric layer

“…For type-1 (edge initiation) debonding ( φ = 1 and 3), the descending portions of the LD curves are smooth. As suggested by an approximate semianalytical model for type-1 debonding process ( Mukherjee et al, 2016c ), the LD curves for such debonding process depend only on the ratio φ/α for a given value of A 0 . The LD data computed for φ/α = 1 and A 0 = 2 .…”

“…The further increase in δ A results in the propagation of this debond with a CZ at its front. This edge debonding, named type-1 for later reference, has been studied by a semi-analytical method using a CZM by Mukherjee et al (2016c) who extended techniques of Dillard (1989) and Ghatak et al (2005) . Their results reveal that the CZ size increases with an increase in the quantity α/ φ.…”