Angle-Dependent Adhesive Mechanics in Hard-Soft Cylindrical Material Interfaces

In this research, the adhesive contact between a hard steel and a soft elastomer cylinder was experimentally studied. In the experiment, the hard cylinder was indented into the soft one, after which the two cylinders were separated. The contact area between the cylinders was elliptical in shape, and the eccentricity of this increased as the angle between the axes of the contacting cylinders decreased. Additionally, the adhesive pull-off force and the contact area increased with a decrease in the angle between the cylinders. The use of a transparent elastomer allowed for observation of the shape of the contact in real time, which facilitated the creation of videos demonstrating the complete process of contact failure and the evolution of the ellipse shape, depending on the distance between the cylinders and normal force. These findings contribute to a better understanding of adhesive interactions in elliptical contacts between cylinders and can be applied to fields such as soft robotics, material design, and bioengineering, where precise control over adhesion and contact mechanics is crucial.