LAUSR

Abstract Controllable peeling is one of the core requirements of the adhesive applications needing high-precision detachment. In this paper, the peeling of an elastic strip on a viscoelastic substrate is analyzed theoretically focusing on the controllability of the peeling process, especially the interfacial detaching speed. The effects of the speed dependence of the work of adhesion, the substrate viscoelastic property and the peeling angle on the controllability of the detaching speed are systematically explored. Assuming a constant work of adhesion, the controllable detaching speed range is strongly limited and the maximum controllable speed is independent on the zero-frequency/high-frequency modulus ratio of the substrate as well as the peeling angle. The controllable detaching speed range can be substantially enlarged when a speed dependent work of adhesion is considered, which indicates a great improvement of the controllability of peeling and is of particular significance to applications needing quick detachment. The tunability of the controllable detaching speed range is also significantly improved when considering the speed dependence of the work of adhesion that the maximum controllable speed can be effectively tuned through modulating the viscoelasticity of the substrate as well as the peeling angle. The results presented here help to comprehensively understand the influences of the material properties and loading parameters on the peeling of an elastic strip on a viscoelastic substrate, which can be exploited to precisely control the peeling process in various applications needing high-precision detachment.