Robustness of the algorithms for extracting plastic properties from the instrumented sharp indentation data

Algorithms for extracting mechanical properties from instrumented sharp indentation results (P–h curves) were recently developed on the basis of extensive finite element simulations coupled with the identification of a representative strain underneath the indenter and construction of characteristic dimensionless functions. The representative strain varies with the cone angle and a critical experimental verification of this concept was performed recently. In this paper, we ascertain the robustness of the algorithms, by subjecting the load versus depth of penetration curves (generated using finite element simulations on solids that were subjected to different levels of prior-plastic strains) to the reverse algorithms and comparing the extracted flow stress and the work-hardening exponent to the uniaxial data generated experimentally. A good match between the experiments and simulations validates the key assumptions made during the algorithm development.