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Elastic recovery in the unloading process of pyramidal microindentation

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Abstract

It is confirmed on the basis of extensive test results for various ceramic and metallic materials that the indentation load P versus penetration depth h curves (Ph curves) both in loading and unloading processes are well approximated with the quadratic formulas of P = k 1h 2 and P = k 2(hh r)2, respectively, and unloading parameter k2 is quantitatively related to the elastic modulus E′ of the material indented, where h r is the residual penetration depth after a complete unload. The unloading/reloading indentation processes for a locally deformed conical/pyramidal impression are well represented by the equivalent mechanical process of a conical/pyramidal indenter with the effective face angle of βeff = (β – βr) on a flat elastic half-space, in terms of the inclined face angles β and βr of the indenter used and of the residual impression formed, respectively. With utilization of the unloading parameter k 2 and the relative residual depth of penetration ξr, a novel method is proposed for estimating E′. Theoretical considerations for a nonquadratic Ph unloading behavior are also made.

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Correspondence to M. Sakai.

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Sakai, M. Elastic recovery in the unloading process of pyramidal microindentation. Journal of Materials Research 18, 1631–1640 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2003.0224

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2003.0224

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