Quantifying the surface roughness effect in microindentation using a proportional specimen resistance model

The influence of the surface roughness on the indentation size effect in microindentation was examined using the proportional specimen resistance model. Stainless steel, aluminium, and copper surfaces were polished to different levels of roughness and subjected to microindentation. The results showed that the indentation size effect increases with increasing surface roughness, according to the proportional specimen resistance model. A normalized hardness equation H/H ₀ = (c ₀ + c ₁ R _a)/(a ₂ d) + 1 was established, and the value of c ₁ can be used to quantify the effect of surface roughness on the severity of the indentation size effect; this value was found to be highest for stainless steel, followed by copper and aluminium.