Investigation of ultra low indentation loading at elevated temperatures based on the hydrostatic stress-induced mass flow model

A mechanism of hydrostatic stress-induced mass flow is proposed to describe a medium under an action of ultra low load indentation at elevated tempera tures. Two types of indenters of conical and spherical shapes and two loadi ng conditions of constant indentation speed and constant load were used in the investigation. For both shapes of indenters, the maximum hydrostatic st ress is located in the vicinity of the indentation tip. The maximum hydrost atic stress is proportional to the indentation speed and applied load, but inversely proportional to the atomic mobility. Comparing the loading condit ions, the maximum hydrostatic stress is linearly proportional to the indent ation area at constant indentation speed, but inversely proportional to the indentation area at constant applied load. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.