Modeling the indentation, penetration and cavitation of elastic membranes

An energy argument is used to predict the penetration of an elastic membrane by a rigid cylindrical indenter. We study a sequence of axisymmetric equilibrium deformations beginning with the indentation of a solid disc, followed by penetration of the membrane at a critical value of the indenter displacement, and ending in a state of cavitation in which the membrane is detached from the indenter and a central traction-free hole is maintained by boundary data alone.