FURTHER ANALYSIS OF INDENTATION LOADING CURVES - EFFECTS OF TIP ROUNDING ON MECHANICAL PROPERTY MEASUREMENTS

The effects of indenter tip rounding on the shape of indentation loadi ng curves have been analyzed using dimensional and finite element anal ysis for conical indentation in elastic-perfectly plastic solids. A me thod for obtaining mechanical properties from indentation loading curv es is then proposed. The validity of this method is examined using fin ite element analysis. Finally, the method is used to determine the yie ld strength of several materials for which the indentation loading cur ves are available in the literature.