An analysis of tensile decohesion along an interface

Abstract A COHESIVE zone type interface model, taking full account of finite geometry changes, is used to study the decohesion of a viscoplastic block from a rigid substrate. Dimensional considerations introduce a characteristic length into the formulation. The specific boundary value problem analysed is one of plane strain tension with a superposed hydrostatic stress. For a perfect interface, if the maximum traction that the viscoplastic block can support is greater than the interfacial strength, decohesion takes place in a primarily tensile mode. If this maximum traction is lower than the interfacial strength, a shear dominated decohesion initiates at the block edge. Imperfections in the form of a non-bonded portion of the interface are considered. The effects of imposed stress triaxiality, size scale, loading rate and interfacial properties on the course of defect dominated decohesion are illustrated. The characterization of decohesion initiation and propagation in terms of rice's (J. appl. Mech. 35, 379, 1968) J-integral is investigated for a variety of interface descriptions and values of the superposed hydrostatic stress.