Plastic characterization of metals by combining nanoindentation test and finite element simulation

Materials with the same elastic modulus E and representative stress and strain (σr, ɛr) present similar indentation–loading curves, whatever the value of strain hardening exponent n. Based on this definition, a good approach was proposed to extract the plastic properties or constitutive equations of metals from nanoindentation test combining finite element simulation. Firstly, without consideration of strain hardening, the representative stress was determined by varying assumed representative stress over a wide range until a good agreement was reached between the computed and experimental loading curves. Similarly, the corresponding representative strain was determined with different hypothetical values of strain hardening exponent in the range of 0–0.6. Through modulating assumed strain hardening exponent values to make the computed unloading curve coincide with that of the experiment, the real strain hardening exponent was acquired. Once the strain hardening exponent was determined, the initial yield stress σy of metals could be obtained by the power law constitution. The validity of the proposed methodology was verified by three real metals: AISI 304 steel, Fe and Al alloy.