Plastic Zone Size at Sharp Indentation of Classical Elastic–Plastic Materials: Behavior at Ideally Plastic Hardening

Sharp indentation problems are examined based on finite element methods (FEMs) and self-similarity considerations. The analysis concerns classical elastic–plastic materials with low, or no, strain-hardening and especially the details of the behavior of the size of the plastic zone are at issue. The results are correlated using a single parameter, comprising both geometrical and mechanical properties, and compared with previously presented semi-analytical findings. The numerical analysis is restricted to cone indentation of elastic-ideally plastic materials.