Finite element analysis of the wedge delamination test

The wedge delamination test has been investigated using the finite element method (FEM). Results of the FEM for the deformation behavior of a soft unc oated substrate have been compared with a widely used analytical model. Fur thermore, the effect of the presence of a thin hard coating attached to the surface of the soft substrate on the deformation behaviour has been presen ted. Special attention has been given to the strains and stresses within th e coating and to the calculation of the energy release rate in the case of a coating delamination. It was possible to show that analytical calculation s of the energy release rate based on uncoated substrates are in good agree ment with the finite element calculations of coated substrates despite the fact that locally the deformation behavior at the surface of the substrate can be quite different for both cases. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.