A study of the effect of prerelaxation on the nanoindentation process of crystalline copper

M. MAŹDZIARZ, T. D. YOUNG, G. JURCZAK, Arch Mech, 63, 5-6, 533-548, (2011).

This paper examines how prerelaxation effects the development of themechanics of a nanoindentation simulation. In particular, the force-depthrelation, indentation stress-strain curves, hardness and elastic modulus,are investigated through molecular statics simulations of a nanoindentationprocess, starting from initial relaxation by: (i) molecular dynamics and(ii) molecular statics. It is found that initial relaxation conditionschange the quantitative response of the system, but not the qualitativeresponse of the system. This has a significant impact on the computationaltime and quality of the residual mechanical behaviour of the system.Additionally, the method of determining of the elastic modulus is examinedfor the spherical and planar indenter; and the numerical results arecompared. An overview of ! the relationship between the grain size andhardness of polycrystalline copper is examined and conclusions are drawn.

Return to Publications page