Peeling Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Elastica From Circular Cylinder

Abstract Quasi-static peeling of a pressure-sensitive tape from the outside of a rigid circular cylinder is analyzed. The finite-length tape is perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder and up to half the circumference. The tape is modeled as an inextensible elastica, so that bending resistance predominates and stretching of the tape is neglected. A transversality (debonding) condition is derived for peeling, based on the common fracture mechanics approach. The tape is unstrained when straight, and will not stick to the curved substrate if the adhesion is sufficiently weak. Displacement control is considered, and the deflections and rotations may be large. The pulled end of the tape may have an initial, unbonded, straight segment. Equilibrium curves of force versus vertical deflection of the pulled end are determined, along with curves of the maximum force, which occurs at the initiation of peeling. Detachment of the tape from the substrate is examined. The effects of the initial bonded and unbonded lengths of the tape, the angle of pulling, the work of adhesion, and the radius of curvature of the cylinder are investigated.