Mathematics

We analyse a one-dimensional model of dynamic debonding for a thin film, where the local toughness of the glue between the film and the substrate also depends on the debonding speed. The wave equation on the debonded region is strongly coupled with Griffith's criterion for the evolution of the debonding front. We provide an existence and uniqueness result and find explicitly the solution in some concrete examples. We study the limit of solutions as inertia tends to zero, observing phases of unstable propagation, as well as time discontinuities, even though the toughness diverges at a limiting debonding speed.