An ellipsoidal cap model for adhesion of a soft particle on a rigid substrate

Surface energy outside the contact zone, which is not accounted for in the classical Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) model, can play an essential role in adhesion mechanics of soft particles. An open problem in the adhesion mechanics of soft elastic particles is how to achieve an explicit expression for the surface energy outside the contact zone in terms of the two JKR-type variables (a, δ), where a is the radius of the contact zone and δ is the relative approach of two bodies. The present work aims to develop an ellipsoidal cap model for the surface energy outside the contact zone of a soft elastic particle on a rigid substrate in terms of the two JKR-type variables (a, δ). An explicit expression for the surface energy outside the contact zone is derived, and simple asymptotic equations are obtained to determine the two unknowns (a, δ). The validity and accuracy of the derived expression and asymptotic equations are verified by good agreement with the Young–Dupre equation in the absence of an external applied force, and are also justified by good agreement of the predicted pull-off force with known results available in recent literature