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Bradley model of the force applied on a contact area between two spheres

Description

Contact mechanics is the study of the deformation of solids that touch each other at one or more points. When two solid surfaces are brought into close proximity, they experience attractive van der Waals forces. Bradley’s van der Waals model provides a means of calculating the tensile force between two rigid spheres with perfectly smooth surfaces.

Related formulas

Variables

FzTotal force of adhesion between the two rigid spheres. between the spheres (N)
πpi
γHalf of the total surface energy of both surfaces per unit area (J/m2)
R1Radius of one of the spheres (m)
R2Radius of the second sphere (m)
z0The equilibrium separation of the two planes (m)
zDistance from one sphere to the other (m)