Abstract
The effect of aspect ratio on the pull-off stress and stiffness of soft elastic fibres is studied using elasticity and numerical analysis. The adhesive interface between a soft fibre and a smooth rigid surface is modelled using the Dugdale-Barenblatt model. Numerical simulations show that, while pull-off stress increases with decreasing aspect ratio, fibres get stiffer. Also, for sufficiently low aspect ratio fibres, failure occurs via the growth of internal cracks and pull-off stress approaches the intrinsic adhesive strength. Experiments carried out with various aspect ratio polyurethane elastomer fibres are consistent with the numerical simulations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1166-1175 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of the Royal Society Interface |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 61 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 7 2011 |
Keywords
- Aspect ratio
- Elastomer
- Fibre stiffness
- Fibrillar adhesion