Deformation and failure modes of adhesively bonded elastic layers

Adhesively bonded elastic layers with thicknesses that are small relative to their lateral dimensions are used in a wide variety of applications. The mechanical response of the compliant layer when a normal stress is imposed across its thickness is determined by the effects of lateral constraints, which are characterized by the ratio of the lateral dimensions of the layer to its thickness. From this degree of confinement and from the material properties of the compliant layer, we predict three distinct deformation modes: (1) edge crack propagation, (2) internal crack propagation, and (3) cavitation. The conditions conductive for each mode are presented in the form of a deformation map developed from fracture mechanics and bulk instability criteria. We use experimental data from elastic and viscoelastic materials to illustrate the predictions of this deformation map. We also discuss the evolution of the deformation to large strains, where nonlinear effects such as fibrillation and yielding dominate the failure process.