Instrumented indentation test used for mechanical properties determination

Focusing on the materials with non-linear stress-strain behavior an instrumented indentation study is presented. Indentation tests were applied on steel R7T. The observed data were analyzed and mechanical properties, such as yield stress, strain hardening exponent and elastic modulus were assessed. Experimental results of load-depth (P-h) test were compared with FEM solution. FEM analysis was applied on two-dimensional model described by elastic-plastic elements. Presented method of prediction in mechanical characteristics is useful to judge deformations of steel and other materials under contact stressing. Experimental results of P-h relation and additional FEM analysis of indentation test provide very helpful information of mechanical behaviors in contact of two bodies