Drops on soft solids: free energy and double transition of contact angles
Drops on soft solids: free energy and double transition of contact angles
The equilibrium shape of liquid drops on elastic substrates is determined by minimising elastic and capillary free energies, focusing on thick incompressible substrates. The problem is governed by three length scales: the size of the drop $R$, the molecular size $a$, and the ratio of surface tension to elastic modulus …