Contact with coupled adhesion and friction: Computational framework, applications, and new insights

Contact involving soft materials often combines dry adhesion, sliding friction, and large deformations. At the local level, these three aspects are rarely captured simultaneously, but included in theoretical models by Mergel et al., (2019). We here develop a corresponding finite element framework that captures 3D finite-strain contact of two deformable bodies. This is suitable to investigate friction even under tensile normal loads. First, we demonstrate capabilities our model using both 2D test cases, which range from compliant tapes structures with high stiffness, include deformable–rigid deformable–deformable contact. then provide new results on onset smooth elastomer–glass interfaces, setup couples nonlinear material behavior, frictional stresses. Our simulations not only agree well experimental findings, they also insights into current debate shear-induced reduction area elastomeric