Abstract
Griffith introduced a general fracture criterion in 1920: a crack will grow only when enough energy is available in the system to cause further fracture. This simple concept has been applied by Rivlin and Thomas to various tear processes in elastomeric materials and by Kendall to a variety of adhesive failures. Their results are reviewed, with particular reference to the fracture and debonding of elastomeric composites. Two further cases are then considered: the detachment of an elastic matrix from a rigid spherical inclusion and the pullout of inextensible cords from an elastic block in which they are embedded.

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