Finite element analysis of the wedge delamination test

The wedge delamination test has been investigated using the finite element method (FEM). Results of the FEM for the deformation behavior of a soft uncoated substrate have been compared with a widely used analytical model. Furthermore, the effect of the presence of a thin hard coating attached to the surface of the soft substrate on the deformation behaviour has been presented. Special attention has been given to the strains and stresses within the coating and to the calculation of the energy release rate in the case of a coating delamination. It was possible to show that analytical calculations of the energy release rate based on uncoated substrates are in good agreement with the finite element calculations of coated substrates despite the fact that locally the deformation behavior at the surface of the substrate can be quite different for both cases.