A general approach for modelling the peeling of a flexible tape from an elastic substrate

The tape-substrate detachment mechanics has been extensively studied in the last decades. The most popular approach to this topic consists of finding the detachment load through a balance between the potential and the adhesion energies within the well-established Griffith framework of the elastic fracture mechanics. This work shows how it is possible to obtain, in general conditions, the energy release rate of a flexible tape with elastic substrate system, with no allowance for the elastic energy. In particular, a simple expression is given for energy release rate as a function of internal forces and rotation at a single section of the tape. Apart from the theoretical interest, the method provides a numerical evaluation of the energy release rate suitable when tackling large displacements fields. Such evaluation turns out to be faster and more accurate of those available even in the recent literature. Further, the proposed methodology can be used as an efficient data reduction technique for experimental determination of the tape – substrate adhesion energy. Several evaluations from literature of the energy release rate and the detaching load, encompassing debonding of configurations ranging from thin tape to stiff lamina, turn out to be degenerated cases of our general expression.