Peel Mechanics for an Elastic-Plastic Adherend

Abstract

Abstract The force required to propagate a 180° bend in an elastic-plastic strip has been calculated from elementary bending theory. Measured forces for Mylar strips of various thicknesses, bent to various degrees, were in good agreement with these calculated values. The corresponding additional stripping force in a peeling experiment will depend upon the thickness of the elastic-plastic adherend, becoming zero both for infinitesimally thin adherends and for those exceeding a critical thickness tc and passing through a maximum value at intermediate thicknesses. Published data are in good agreement with these conclusions. For a strongly adhering strip, higher peel strengths are found for a peel angle of 180°, compared to 90°, and the effect is greater than can be accounted for solely by plastic yielding of the adherend. It is attributed in part to greater energy dissipation within the adhesive layer.