  We study the interaction between capillary forces and deformation in the
context of a deformable capillary adhesive: a clamped, tense membrane is
adhered to a rigid substrate by the surface tension of a liquid droplet. We
find that the equilibrium adhesive force for this elastocapillary adhesive is
significantly enhanced in comparison to the capillary adhesion between rigid
plates. In particular, the equilibrium adhesion force is orders of magnitude
greater when the membrane is sufficiently deformed to contact the substrate.
From a dynamic perspective, however, the formation of a fluid-filled dimple
slows this approach to contact and means that stable attachment is only
achieved if adhesion is maintained for a minimum time. The inclusion of a
variable membrane tension (as a means of modifying the deformability) gives
additional control over the system, allowing new detachment strategies to be
explored.
