Analytical–experimental characterization of metallic adhesion impulses

The experimental characterization of the impulses produced at the rupture of adhesive bonds is a research activity involving challenging issues in the fields of systems dynamics, experiment design, mechanical vibrations modelling and measurement. The basic experiment adopted for the characterization of impulses consists in an oscillator, whose dynamic response is related to the applied force's intensity and duration. If more than one vibration mode of the impulse sensing body can be measured, both the impulse intensity and duration may be estimated, disentangling this information from systematic effects. This makes it possible to explore the dependence of the adhesion impulse on the applied preloading force between the bodies, which enhances the bonds' strength with a limited effect on its duration.