Viscoelastic Crack Propagation: Review of Theories and Applications

Abstract

We review a theory of crack propagation in viscoelastic solids. We consider both cracks in infinite systems and in finite-sized systems. As applications of the theory we consider two adhesion problems, namely pressure sensitive adhesives and the ball-flat adhesion problem. We also study crack propagation in the pig skin dermis, which is of medical relevance, and rubber wear in the context of tires.