Nuwong Chollacoop and Upadrasta Ramamurty

pp. 197 - 200

Abstract

The effects of power-law plasticity (yield strength and strain hardening exponent) on the plastic strain distribution
underneath a Vickers indenter was systematically investigated by recourse to finite element simulation, motivated by the
experimental macro- and micro-indentation on heat-treated Al-Zn-Mg alloy. For meaningful comparison between simulated
and experimental results, the experimental heat treatment was carefully designed such that Al alloy achieve similar yield
strength with different strain hardening exponent, and vice versa. On the other hand, full 3D simulation of Vickers indentation
was conducted to capture subsurface strain distribution. Subtle differences and similarities were discussed based on the strain
field shape, size and magnitude for the isolated effect of yield strength and strain hardening exponent.