A model of liquid-mediated adhesion with a 2D rough surface

A computational analysis is conducted on a solid–liquid–solid interface: a rough, elastic surface is brought into contact with rigid flat while being influenced by an intervening liquid film of fixed volume. The problem is solved (iteratively) by satisfying the equations of elasticity and capillarity, while conserving liquid volume and honoring the constraints of no surface interpenetration and no negative pressures at dry contact points. As the liquid volume is increased from low values, a critical condition is reached whereby there are sudden increases in the values of certain output parameters, such as tensile force and wetted length. For the smaller values of surface roughness, the critical point is associated with a near complete collapse of the surface topography.