Adhesion of a punch to a thin membrane

The measurement of adhesion involves not only surface properties, but also the mechanical properties of the substrates in contact, in particular energ y dissipation near the fracture front. A method to help elucidate the contr ibution of this dissipation may be to study the adhesion of thin films. We consider the situation where a spherical punch adheres to a thin membrane, thus leading to deformation of the latter. Equations for estimating the ene rgy of adhesion are developed. The analysis leads to a criterion for the ad hesion to be stable whilst separating (quasi-statically) punch and membrane . (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevi er SAS.