Indentation of metals by a flat-ended cylindrical punch

The paper reviews the fundamentals of indentation theory for punches with cylindrical geometry, presents a deep-indentation finite element (FE) simulation and discusses an experimental technique for flat-ended cylindrical indentation. This technique is based on the use of cylindrical punches with diameters up to 1 mm and allows pressure–penetration curves to be drawn from which yield stress and elasticity modulus can be determined. Several materials have been tested including pure metals, steels and refractory alloys; yield stress has been determined and compared with literature values. By testing at different temperatures it was also possible to determine the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) for some alloys that show such phenomenon.