Nonlocal Frictional Effects at Indentation of Elastic Materials

Indentation of elastic materials is investigated numerically using the finite element method. Large deformation theory is relied upon for accuracy. The study focuses on nonlocal frictional effects on relevant indentation quantities in the microindentation regime. The indentation quantities investigated include both local and global ones. It is shown that nonlocal frictional effects are small when global quantities are at issue, as is the case when conventional (Coulomb) theory of friction is used, also when these features are introduced at the ridges of a Vickers indenter where stress gradients are substantial. These effects are, however, shown to be of importance for particular indenter geometries as far as local field variables are concerned.