Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Influences of stress on the measurement of mechanical properties using nanoindentation: Part I. Experimental studies in an aluminum alloy

Journal Article · · Journal of Materials Research
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Department of Materials Science, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005 (United States)
  2. Nano Instruments, Inc., 1001 Larson Drive, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 (United States)

The influence of applied stress on the measurement of hardness and elastic modulus using nanoindentation methods has been experimentally investigated using special specimens of aluminum alloy 8009 to which controlled stresses could be applied by bending. When analyzed according to standard methods, the nanoindentation data reveal changes in hardness with stress similar to those observed in conventional hardness tests. However, the same analysis shows that the elastic modulus changes with stress by as much as 10{percent}, thus suggesting that the analysis procedure is somehow deficient. Comparison of the real indentation contact areas measured optically to those determined from the nanoindentation data shows that the apparent stress dependence of the modulus results from an underestimation of the contact area by the nanoindentation procedures. {copyright} {ital 1996 Materials Research Society.}

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76OR00033; AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
279744
Journal Information:
Journal of Materials Research, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Research Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 11; ISSN JMREEE; ISSN 0884-2914
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English