title: The effect of aspect ratio on adhesion and stiffness for soft elastic fibres.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. baksak@nanogriptech.com
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aksak
authors.forename: Chung-Yuen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sitti
mesh_terms: D008422:Materials Testing; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011140:Polyurethanes
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes