Indentation behavior of metal-ceramic multilayers at the nanoscale: Numerical analysis and experimental verification

G. Tang, Y. L. Shen, D. R P Singh, Nikhilesh Chawla

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

The behavior of aluminum/silicon carbide nanolayered composite in response to nanoindentation loading is studied. The effects of heterogeneity on the deformation fields, as well as the hardness and elastic modulus obtained from indentation, are investigated using finite element analysis. Attention is also devoted to correlating the numerical results with experimental deformation and damage features. The model uses an explicit layered structure within the axisymmetric framework. It is found that the nanolayered composite results in unique deformation patterns. Significant tensile stresses can be generated locally along certain directions, which offers a mechanistic rationale for the internal cracking observed experimentally. The unloading process also leads to an expansion of the tension-stressed area, as well as continued plastic flow in parts of the aluminum layers. Comparisons of hardness and indentation-derived modulus between modeling and experiments also point to the importance of incorporating the detailed geometric features when performing indentation analyses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2033-2044
Number of pages12
JournalActa Materialia
Volume58
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010

Keywords

  • Finite element analysis
  • Multilayers
  • Nanocomposites
  • Nanoindentation
  • Plastic deformation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Polymers and Plastics
  • Metals and Alloys

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