Adhesion of spheres: The JKR-DMT transition using a dugdale model

In the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) approximation, adhesion forces outside the area of contact are neglected and elastic stresses at the edge of the contact are infinite, as in linear elastic fracture mechanics. On the other hand, in the Derjaguin-Muller-Toporov (DMT) approximation, the adhesion forces are taken into account, but the profile is assumed to be Hertzian, as if adhesion forces Could not deform the surfaces. To avoid self consistent numerical calculations based on a specific interaction model (Lennard-Jones potential for example) we have used a Dugdale model, which allows analytical solutions. The adhesion forces are assumed to have a constant value σO, the theoretical stress, over a length d at the crack tip. This internal loading acting in the air gap (the external crack) leads to a stress intensity factor Km, which is cancelled with the stress intensity factor KI due to the external loading. This cancellation suppresses the stress singularities, ensures the continuity of stresses, and fixes the radius c and the crack opening displacement δt. The energy release rate G is computed by the J-integral and the equilibrium is given by G = w. The equilibrium curves a(P), a(δ), and P(σ), the adherence forces at fixed load or fixed grips, the profiles, and the stress distributions can therefore be drawn as a function of a single parameter λ. When λ increases from zero to infinity there is a continuous transition from the DMT approximation to the JKR approximation. Furthermore the value of G for the DMT approximation is derived. It is shown that it is not physically consistent to have tensile stresses in the area of contact and no adhesion forces outside or no tensile stresses in the area of contact and adhesion forces outside. In the JKR approximation the distribution of adhesion forces is reduced to a singular stress at r = a+. The total attraction force outside the contact being zero, the integral of stresses in the contact is equal to the applied load P and negative applied loads are supported by the elastic restoring forces. In the DMT approximation the adhesion stresses tend toward zero to have a continuity with the stress at r = a−, but their integral is finite and the total attraction force outside the contact is 2πwR. In the area of contact the distribution of stresses is Hertzian, and their integral is P + 27πwR. Negative applied loads are sustained by adhesion forces outside the contact.