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The equivalence of axisymmetric indentation model for three-dimensional indentation hardness

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Abstract

Nix and Gao [J. Mech. Phys. Solids 46, 411 (1998)] established an important relation between the microindentation hardness and indentation depth for axisymmetric indenters. We use the conventional theory of mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity [Huang et al., Int. J. Plast. 20, 753 (2004)] established from the Taylor dislocation model [Taylor, Proc. R. Soc. London A 145, 362 (1934); Taylor, J. Inst. Met. 62, 307 (1938)] to study the Berkovich and other triangular pyramid indenters. The three-dimensional finite element analysis shows that the widely used equivalence of equal base area leads to significant errors, particularly in microindentation. A new equivalence of equal angle is proposed for triangular pyramid indenters, and it has been validated for a large range of indenter angles and indentation depths.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    J. Qin & K. C. Hwang

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, USA

    Y. Huang

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 60208, USA

    J. Xiao

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  1. J. Qin
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  2. Y. Huang
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  3. J. Xiao
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  4. K. C. Hwang
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Correspondence to Y. Huang.

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Qin, J., Huang, Y., Xiao, J. et al. The equivalence of axisymmetric indentation model for three-dimensional indentation hardness. Journal of Materials Research 24, 776–783 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0095

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2009.0095

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