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Title: Corrections to the stiffness relationship in 3-sided and conical indentation problems

Journal Article · · International Journal of Solids and Structures

One key relationship in the depth-sensing indentation technique is the proportionality between the contact stiffness and the contact size, as can be proved from the Sneddon's solution of axisymmetric frictionless contact. However, Sneddon's solution is only accurate when the indenter approaches a half-space (e.g., for conical indenter, the half-apex angle approaches 90º) and the interface is frictionless. As Hay et al. (J. Mater. Res., 1999) pointed out, sharp indenters lead to a radial inward displacement on the sample surface, thus leading to extra indentation force needed to push the surface back to conform with the conical indenter. In this paper, we argue that the physical origin arises from the incorrect use of reference and deformed coordinates in the boundary conditions that define Sneddon's problem. This yields two correction factors for both load and depth solutions, which are needed for sharp pyramidal indenters and frictional contact. Approximate solutions are derived which compare favorably well with the finite element simulations. Here, we also find that the stiffness correction factor of three-sided indenter is about 11~15% times higher than that of conical indenter, and this multiplicative factor is only a weak function of the indenter angle but does not depend on the friction coefficient and Poisson's ratio.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1804845
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1543242; OSTI ID: 1547733
Journal Information:
International Journal of Solids and Structures, Journal Name: International Journal of Solids and Structures Vol. 166 Journal Issue: C; ISSN 0020-7683
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 5 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (15)

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Flat punch of arbitrary shape on an elastic half-space journal January 1986
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Analysis of Berkovich indentation journal January 1996
Computational modeling of the forward and reverse problems in instrumented sharp indentation journal November 2001
Stiffness of frictional contact of dissimilar elastic solids journal March 2018
A critical examination of the fundamental relations used in the analysis of nanoindentation data journal June 1999
Effects of indenter geometry and material properties on the correction factor of Sneddon’s relationship for nanoindentation of elastic and elastic–plastic materials journal April 2008
Elastic analysis of some punch problems for a layered medium journal January 1987
An approximate solution for the contact area and elastic compliance of a smooth punch of arbitrary shape journal January 1990
Boussinesq'S Problem for a Rigid cone journal January 1939
An improved technique for determining hardness and elastic modulus using load and displacement sensing indentation experiments journal June 1992
A comparison of 3D finite element simulations for Berkovich and conical indentation of fused silica journal January 2007
Measurement of hardness and elastic modulus by instrumented indentation: Advances in understanding and refinements to methodology journal January 2004
On the generality of the relationship among contact stiffness, contact area, and elastic modulus during indentation journal March 1992

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