Analysis of indentation size effect in copper and its alloys

Abstract

For describing the indentation size effect (ISE), numerous models, which relate the load or hardness to the indent dimensions, have been proposed. Unfortunately, it is still difficult to associate the different parameters involved in such relationships with physical or mechanical properties of the material. This is an unsolved problem since the ISE can be associated with various causes such as workhardening, roughness, piling-up, sinking-in, indenter tip geometry, surface energy, varying composition and crystal anisotropy. For interpreting the change in hardness with indent size, an original approach is proposed on the basis of composite hardness modelling together with the use of a simple model, which allows the determination of the hardness–depth profile. Applied to copper and copper alloys, it is shown that it is possible to determine the maximum hardness value reached at the outer surface of the material and the distance over which both the ISE and the workhardening take place.