title: A practical guide for analysis of nanoindentation data.
abstract: Mechanical properties of biological materials are increasingly explored via nanoindentation testing. This paper reviews the modes of deformation found during indentation: elastic, plastic, viscous and fracture. A scheme is provided for ascertaining which deformation modes are active during a particular indentation test based on the load-displacement trace. Two behavior maps for indentation are presented, one in the viscous-elastic-plastic space, concerning homogeneous deformation, and one in the plastic versus brittle space, concerning the transition to fracture behavior when the threshold for cracking is exceeded. Best-practice methods for characterizing materials are presented based on which deformation modes are active; the discussion includes both nanoindentation experimental test options and appropriate methods for analyzing the resulting data.
authors.affiliation: Cambridge University Engineering Department, Cambridge, UK. mlo29@cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Oyen
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006245:Hardness Tests / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology; D013997:Time Factors