Interaction and deformation of elastic bodies: Origin of adhesion hysteresis

The deformation and adhesion of soft elastic particles interacting with a L ennard-Jones potential is obtained by solving self-consistently the elastic ity equations. Hysteresis is demonstrated between loading and unloading. Al so, the pull-off force or maximum adhesion is shown to increase and eventua lly to saturate as the maximum applied load is increased. The origin of bot h of these phenomena, which have been observed experimentally, is traced to limited equilibration and dynamic hysteresis of the shape and contract ang le between the advancing and receding deformed solids.