ENERGY-RELEASE RATES FOR THE PEELING OF FLEXIBLE MEMBRANES AND THE ANALYSIS OF BLISTER TESTS

Solutions are given for the debonding of a strip by extending the usua l peel test analysis. Exact solutions are obtained for concentrated lo ads and for uniform pressure. Consideration is also given to energy ba sed solutions and to the effect of residual strains. The axisymmetric case is then analysed in detail and the exact series solution compared with the constant stress assumption, It is observed that only slight errors arise in using the latter and a general scheme is developed for deriving expressions for G based on this assumption. Solutions for co ncentrated forces, island blisters and constrained blisters are derive d. The effects of large displacements and of plastic yielding are also described. It is observed that solutions for G in the form of energy divided by area created are very useful in that the parameters relatin g this ratio to G are reasonably insensitive, thus rendering experimen ts simple.