 Viscous peeling of an elastic plate

A fluid advancing under an elastic plate can be resisted mainly by lubrication theory flow near its front. For front gap $h_f$ and peeling length $l_p$, the elastic pressure gradient is of order $B{h}_f/l_p^5$, while the gap volume flux is of order $B{h}_f^4/(\mu l_p^5)$. Mass balance therefore gives peeling speed $U_p\sim B{h}_f^3/(\mu l_p^5)$.