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New method for determining Young’s modulus by non-ideally sharp indentation

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Abstract

In a previously developed method for estimating Young’s modulus E by depth-sensing indentation with spherical-tipped Berkovich indenter, the E value is deduced from several functional relationships (established by finite element analysis) relating nominal hardness/reduced elastic modulus ratio (Hn/Er) and elastic work/total work ratio (We/W). These relationships are specified for different absolute bluntness/maximum displacement ratios (Δh/hm). This paper reports the generalization of the method by proposing a function to replace all the above mentioned Hn/Er−We/W relationships. The function contains only a parameter Vr ≡ Videal/Vblunt instead of Δh/hm, where Videal is defined as the indented volume bounded by the cross-sectional areas measured at the maximum displacement hm for an ideally sharp indenter, and Vblunt is that of the real indenter. The use of Vr to replace Δh/hm is for the purpose of extending the application of the method for non-spherical tipped Berkovich indenters. The effectiveness of the method for materials of prominent plasticity was demonstrated by performing tests on carbon steel and aluminum alloy using three Berkovich indenters with different tip shapes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surface Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, Beijing, 100072, People’s Republic of China

    Dejun Ma

  2. Department of Applied Physics and Materials Research Center, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Chung Wo Ong & Sing Fai Wong

  3. State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710049, People’s Republic of China

    Jiawen He

Authors
  1. Dejun Ma
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  2. Chung Wo Ong
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  3. Sing Fai Wong
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  4. Jiawen He
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Ma, D., Ong, C.W., Wong, S.F. et al. New method for determining Young’s modulus by non-ideally sharp indentation. Journal of Materials Research 20, 1498–1506 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2005.0193

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2005.0193

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