Effect of extrinsic and intrinsic factors on an indentation test

effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the measured results, such as loaddisplacement curves and interfacial stresses, from indentation tests of composite materials is studied using both analytical and finite element models. The intrinsic factors include properties of the fibermatrix interface and the material symmetry of the fiber (transversely isotropic or isotropic). The extrinsic factors include the radius of the hole through which the fiber is pushed in, and the size and shape of the indentor. Out of the above factors, only the radius of the hole is found to have a negligible effect on the results of the indentation test. Copyright 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.