Computational modeling of viscoplastic polymeric material response during micro-indentation tests

The computational modeling of instrumented indentation tests used to characterize material properties is challenging. It is mainly due to the computational techniques demanded to couple the complex physical mechanisms involved, such as, for example, the time-dependent inelastic material response to loads during contact. Therefore, this work aims to simulate the mechanical response of the poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) during a micro-indentation test considering a viscoplastic material model, and a prescribed load approach, using the finite element method. Further, model validation is performed based on experimental data measured during the contact between the indenter and the PVDF. Numerical analyses were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics finite element software considering the loading scheme of the experimental tests of 800 mN/min rate during loading and unloading, and a 400 mN constant load, held by 30 s. Finally, a viscoplastic Chaboche constitutive model is presented considering two cases: (1) a perfectly plastic behavior, and (2) a nonlinear isotropic hardening behavior based on Voce and Hockett-Sherby exponential laws. While the latter models exhibit some discrepancy in capturing the experimental behavior, the former one has shown excellent agreement with the load-depth curves obtained experimentally, achieving the best fitting for the set of Chaboche parameters: A = 1 s(-1), n = 4.62 and sigma(ref) = 132 MPa. Moreover, several phenomenological features of viscoplastic behavior such as rate dependence, plastic flow (or creep) and stress relaxation were accurately provided by the Chaboche model when describing the behavior of the PVDF material.