Modeling of effects of adhesive interlayers on contact-induced radial cracking in brittle coatings on substrates

Abstract

The effects of soft adhesive interlayers on contact-induced radial cracking in brittle coatings on supporting substrates were investigated recently. A semiempirical equation for the critical load to initiate radial cracking was derived, which used three fitting parameters obtained by comparison with the finite element results. An analytical model is derived in the present study to illustrate the effects of adhesive interlayers. This is achieved by adopting the analogy between the coating/substrate system and a plate on an elastic foundation. In the presence of an adhesive interlayer, the interlayer/substrate bilayer is treated as the effective elastic foundation. The effective modulus of foundation for the bilayer is derived, and the solution for coating/interlayer/substrate systems can be obtained from the existing solution for coating/substrate systems by replacing the modulus of foundation. Specific results are calculated for critical loads to initiate radial cracks in silicon coatings bonded by adhesive interlayers of different materials and thicknesses to glass substrates. The present analytical solution provides an alternative other than the existing semiempirical equation in predicting the effects of adhesive interlayers.