Stretch flow of thin layers of Newtonian liquids: Fingering patterns and lifting forces

We study the stretch flow of a thin layer of Newtonian liquid constrained between two circular plates. The evolution of the interface of the originally circular bubble is studied when lifting one of the plates at a constant velocity and the observed pattern is related to the measured lifting force. By comparing experimental results to numerical simulations using a Darcy's law model we can account for the fully nonlinear evolution of the observed fingering pattern. One observes an initial destabilization of the interface by growth of air fingers due to a Saffman-Taylor-like instability and then a coarsening of the pattern toward a circular interface until complete debonding of the two plates occurs. Numerical simulations reveal that when relating the observed patterns to the lifting force not only the number of fingers but also the amplitude of the fingering growth has to be taken into account. This is consistent with the experimental observations.