On the indentation contact area of a creeping solid during constant-strain-rate loading by a sharp indenter

Poly(methyl methacrylate) was contacted by a Berkovich indenter at a range of constant loading strain rates. This particular loading scheme was used to maintain the strain-rate-dependent elastic modulus and indentation hardness of the creeping solid constant throughout loading. A loading curve analysis method identical to that of Malzbender and de With but based on the elastic-perfectly plastic contact model of Hochstetter et al. [Tribol. Int.36, 973–985, 2003] was used to process the load-displacement curves. Using the analysis method together with the strain-rate-dependent elastic modulus of the creeping solid known a priori, the strain-rate-dependent hardness could then be predicted. The predicted hardness versus strain-rate relationship was compared with that evaluated from the observed topographic images of the residual impressions due to heavier indentations at three constant loading strain rates. Based on this comparison, the elastic-perfectly plastic contact model was shown to be applicable to the creeping solid only when deformation takes place at a quasi-static strain rate.