DEFORMATION OF METALS UNDER CONTINUOUS INDENTATION BY A SPHERICAL INDENTER

Results of investigations of the regularities of elasto-plastic deform ation of metals during continuous indentation by a spherical indenter are presented. The correlation of the processes of indentation and uni axial tension is considered within the limits of the deformation theor y of plasticity using methods of the theory of similarity and dimensio nal analysis. New effective characteristics of strengthening and a cri terion of similarity of the strain state of various metals during inde ntation are substantiated and proposed. Expressions and plots are give n for the calculation of the intensity of plastic deformation using th e parameters of a continuous diagram of elasto-plastic indentation in the coordinates of indenter loading and displacement.