The indentation of standard viscoelastic solids, that is, the three-element
viscoelastic material, by an axisymmetric, flat-ended indenter has been in
vestigated theoretically. Under the boundary conditions of flat-punch inden
tation of a viscoelastic half-space, the solutions of the equations of visc
oelastic deformation are derived for the standard viscoelastic material. Th
eir generality resides in their inclusion of compressible as well as incomp
ressible solids. They cover the two transient situations: flat-punch creep
test and load-relaxation test, in experimental tests of their applicability
, nanoindentation and microindentation probes under creep and relaxation co
nditions yielded a modulus from 0.1 to 1.1 GPa and viscosity from 1 to 31 G
pa . s for a crosslinked glassy polyurethane coatings. For bulk polystyrene
, the values vary from 1 to 2 GPa and from 20 to 40 Gpa . s, respectively.
The analysis here provides a fundamental basis for probing elastic and visc
ous properties of coatings with nanoindentation or microindentation tests.
(C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.