An instrumented microindentation testing device

An experimental device for microindentation testing has been designed and constructed. The device can be used together with standard testing machines and allows for continuous recording of indentation loads up to approximately 500 N and indentation depths in the range 1 to 100 mum Special care has been taken in order to minimize the effects of elastic deformations in the experimental setup as well as deformation of the foundation. To check the reliability as well as the accuracy of the experimental device, microindentation tests, using a standard Vickers indenter, were performed on three well-characterized materials and the experimental results compared with earlier experimental and theoretical findings as well as with presently performed three-dimensional finite element calculations.