A continuous indentation test for metals

A penetration test using a continuously increasing load applied on a knife-edge indenter (30° angle) is described. The specific advantage of this method is that the applied load is continuously recorded as a function of the penetration depth. Ni-200 and 70 30 brass with varying plastic deformation responses produced by different cold rolling and annealing schedules were studied. The finite element method was applied to model the plastic deformation process under the indenter and to predict the load versus depth-of-penetration curves. A linear relationship between the applied load and the penetration depth was found experimentally and by computer simulation for all conditions.