We analyze the onset of plastic yield in the Maugis-adhesive contact of elastic spheres. Written in proper dimensionless variables, the problem solution depends on Poisson's ratio, the Tabor parameter and a non-dimensional adhesion strength. The influences of adhesion range and strength are studied in detail. First yield can either occur inside the bodies on the axis of symmetry (for long range adhesion) or at the contact boundary (for short range adhesion). Adhesion significantly reduces the external load necessary to initiate plastic yield. A simple analytic solution for the critical load in the DMT-limit of adhesion is being derived. Our results are quantitatively similar to previously published findings based on the double Hertz model of adhesion and can for example be applied to study an adhesive spherical microcontact in the contact of rough surfaces.

中文翻译：

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弹性球的 Maugis-粘合剂接触中的第一次屈服

我们分析了弹性球的 Maugis 粘合剂接触中塑性屈服的开始。以适当的无量纲变量编写，问题解决方案取决于泊松比、Tabor 参数和无量纲粘附强度。详细研究了粘合范围和强度的影响。第一次屈服可以发生在对称轴上的物体内部（对于长距离粘附）或在接触边界处（对于短距离粘附）。附着力显着降低了引发塑性屈服所需的外部载荷。正在推导出 DMT 粘附极限中临界载荷的简单解析解。