Interface strength, work of adhesion and plasticity in the peel test

A cohesive zone model is proposed and analyzed for steady-state peeling of a thin rate-independent, elastic-plastic film bonded to anelastic substrate. A traction-separation description of the interface is embedded within continuum characterizations of the film and substrate. The primary parameters characterizing the traction-separation relation are the work of adhesion and the peak separation stress, termed the interface strength. The objective of the study is the determination of the relationship of the peel force to the work of adhesion of the interface and its strength, with due regard for plastic deformation in the film. An example of an elastic film peeled from an elastic-plastic substrate is also presented.