Influence of Berkovich indenter tilt on the projected contact area at nanoindentation test

Abstract

At the nanoindentation test, the tilt of the indenter or specimen surface can occur. This deviation influences the projected contact area, which is important for the evaluation of the Young modulus and hardness. This paper is aimed on the derivation of the analytical expressions for the projected contact area if the indenter is tilted in 3D space. Then the projected contact area is the same as the area of indenter cross-section by the plane corresponding to the specimen surface. The calculated results for tilted and ideal indenter were compared and the influence of the indenter tilt was evaluated. The cross-sections were plotted for few indenter tilts to better describe the change of the projected contact area. The results show that indenter tilt can have significant impact on the results if the indenter tilt is big enoughAt the nanoindentation test, the tilt of the indenter or specimen surface can occur. This deviation influences the projected contact area, which is important for the evaluation of the Young modulus and hardness. This paper is aimed on the derivation of the analytical expressions for the projected contact area if the indenter is tilted in 3D space. Then the projected contact area is the same as the area of indenter cross-section by the plane corresponding to the specimen surface. The calculated results for tilted and ideal indenter were compared and the influence of the indenter tilt was evaluated. The cross-sections were plotted for few indenter tilts to better describe the change of the projected contact area. The results show that indenter tilt can have significant impact on the results if the indenter tilt is big enough