Parameter sensitivity analysis for a Drücker–Prager model following from numerical simulations of indentation tests

A parameter sensitivity analysis is carried out from numerical simulations of indention tests. The indented material obeys a simple Drücker–Prager behavior with no hardening rule, involving four material properties. For each of the parameters, the sensitivity is defined as the variation of the error function around a reference indentation curve. It is computed for three loading paths and five indenter shapes: spherical, conical, cylindrical, tetrahedral, and pyramidal. Finally, each of the sensitivities are compared with each other and commented on.