STICK-SLIP IN THE PEELING OF AN ADHESIVE TAPE - EVOLUTION OF THEORETICAL-MODEL

This paper analyses the dynamic equations representing the peeling dyn amics of an adhesive tape from a rotating support, Three degrees of fr eedom are considered. Speed jumps are shown to be possible and are the n introduced into the dynamics by discontinuous operators. Differences with previous models are studied, with regard also to the eventuality of chaotic orbits, The observed metastability of the stationary branc hes is accounted in an early catastrophe model. An analogy between the sudden jumps of the crack speed and the abrupt phase transitions of a van der Waals' fluid is developed with the aim of suggesting a possib le statistical interpretation of fracture dynamics. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.