An elastic-plastic indentation model and its solutions

An analytical model of hardness has been developed. Four major indentation tests, namely indentation by cones, wedges, spheres, and flat-ended, axisymmetric cylinders have been analyzed based on the model. Analytical relationships among hardness, yield stress, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio, and indenter geometries have been found. These results enable hardness to be calculated in terms of uniaxial material properties and indenter geometries for a wide variety of elastic and plastic materials. These relationships can also be used for evaluating other mechanical properties through hardness measurements and for converting hardness from one type of hardness test into those of a different test. Comparison with experimental data and numerical calculations is excellent.