Abstract
It is shown that to analyze the load versus displacement data obtained from a nanoindentation experiment on a flat surface, it is incorrect to use the so called “reduced modulus,” which includes the elastic properties of both the indenter and the test solid. It is suggested that, until correct analytical solutions become available, the indenter should always be of a much stiffer material than the test solid and it should be approximated to a rigid indenter in the analysis. Furthermore, when the indenter and the test surface are of comparable elastic moduli, the measured indenter displacement is the distance of mutual approach of the two contacting bodies rather than the penetration of the indenter below the original surface of the test solid.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
V.P. Alekhin, G.S. Berlin, A.V. Isaev, G.N. Kalei, V.A. Merkulov, V.N. Skvortsov, A.P. Temovskii, M.M. Krushchov, G.D. Shnyrev, and M.Kh. Shorshorov, Ind. Lab. 38, 619 (1972).
S.I. Bulychev, V.P. Alekhin, M.Kh. Shorshorov, A.P. Ternovskii, and G.D. Shnyrev, Ind. Lab. 41, 1409 (1975).
B.A. Galanov, O.N. Grigor’ev, Yu. V. Mil’man, and I.P. Ragozin, Ind. Lab. 11, 93 (1983).
J.L. Loubet, J.M. Georges, O. Marchesini, and G. Meille, J. Tribology 106, 43 (1984).
J.L. Loubet, J.M. Georges, and G. Meille, in Microindentation Techniques in Materials Science and Engineering, edited by P.J. Blau and B.R. Lawn, ASTM Spec. Tech. Publ. 889 (ASTM, Philadelphia, PA, 1986), p. 72.
M.F. Doemer and N.D. Nix, J. Mater. Res. 1, 601 (1986).
M.F. Doerner, D.S. Gardner, and W.D. Nix. J. Mater. Res. 1, 845 (1986).
J.D. Ross, H.M. Pollock, J.C. Pivin, and J. Takadonm, Thin Solid Films 148, 171 (1987).
T.W. Wu, M. Moshref, and P.S. Alexopoulos, Thin Solid Films 187, 295 (1990).
M.V. Swain and J. Mencik, Thin Solid Films 253, 204 (1994).
T.Y. Tsui, J. Vlassak, and W.D. Nix, J. Mater. Res. 14, 2196 (1999).
W.W. Gerberich, A. Strojny, K. Yoder, and L-S. Cheng, J. Mater. Res. 14, 2210 (1999).
Y.Y. Lim, M.M. Chaudhri, and Y. Enomoto, J. Mater. Res. 14, 2314 (1999).
Y.Y. Lim and M.M. Chaudhri, Philos. Mag. A 79, 2979 (1999).
W.C. Oliver and G.M. Pharr, J. Mater. Res. 7, 1564 (1992).
L.N. Sneddon, Int. J. Engng Sci. 3, 47 (1965).
E.H. Yoffe, Philos. Mag. A 50, 813 (1984).
S.P. Timoshenko and J.N. Goodier, in Theory of Elasticity, 3rd ed. (McGray-Hill, New York, 1970) p. 412.
J.S. Williams, Y. Chen, J. Wong-Leung, A. Kerr, and M.V. Swain, J. Mater. Res. 14, 2338 (1999).
T.F. Page, W.C. Oliver, and C. McHargue, J. Mater. Res. 7, 450 (1992).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chaudhri, M.M. A note on a common mistake in the analysis of nanoindentation data. Journal of Materials Research 16, 336–339 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2001.0052
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2001.0052