Identification of material parameters by means of compliance moduli in spherical indentation test

An identification method of elastic and plastic hardening parameters is proposed by measuring compliance moduli in loading and unloading in the spherical indentation test. The loading program is composed of consecutive loading and unloading steps from which the compliance moduli are determined from the load–penetration (P–h) curve. The hardening parameters k and m occurring in the plastic hardening curve εp=(σ/k)1m are then specified. Identification of materials described by a more complex three parameters constitutive law εp=((σ−σy)/k)′1/m′, where σy denotes the yield stress, is also analysed. The identification of Young’s modulus from the indentation test is also presented.