Identification of plastic hardening parameters of metals from spherical indentation tests

Using the two-parameter power hardening rule sigma = kepsilon(p)(m), the parameters k and m are identified from spherical indentation loading-unloading tests which account for the variation of the indentation profile during elastic unloading and sphere deformation. The predicted and measured stress-strain curves are compared for several materials. Both experimental and actual data for 18G2A low-alloy steel are used to assess the accuracy of the identification procedure. Finally, identification of the stress-strain curve of an aluminium alloy is demonstrated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.