title: Modelling the nanomechanical response of a micro particle-matrix system for nanoindentation tests.
abstract: A lot of experimental, numerical simulation and analytical modelling work has been done on how the substrate affects the measured hardness and elastic modulus of the coating/substrate system for nanoindentation tests. Little work has been done on the elastic-plastic behaviour of micro particle-matrix systems. Clifford et al have proposed an empirical model to describe the spatially dependent composite modulus during nanoindentation tests for linear elastic particles embedded in a linear elastic matrix. However, no such models have been developed for elastic-plastic composites. In this study, finite element simulations were used to determine the elastic modulus and hardness of hard particles embedded in a soft matrix and vice versa. An extended Clifford model has been developed to determine the elastic modulus and hardness for elastic-plastic composites with various particle shapes and volume fractions.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical & Systems Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
authors.forename: Yunyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Pengfei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Jinju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen