Energy release rates for the peeling of flexible membranes and the analysis of blister tests

Solutions are given for the debonding of a strip by extending the usual peel test analysis. Exact solutions are obtained for concentrated loads and for uniform pressure. Consideration is also given to energy based solutions and to the effect of residual strains. The axisymmetric case is then analysed in detail and the exact series solution compared with the constant stress assumption, It is observed that only slight errors arise in using the latter and a general scheme is developed for deriving expressions for G based on this assumption. Solutions for concentrated forces, island blisters and constrained blisters are derived. The effects of large displacements and of plastic yielding are also described. It is observed that solutions for G in the form of energy divided by area created are very useful in that the parameters relating this ratio to G are reasonably insensitive, thus rendering experiments simple.