Computer simulation of stress distribution during Vickers hardness testing of WC-6Co

Abstract

This paper describes a numerical simulation and experimental study of the Vickers indentation testing of WC-6Co specimens. The numerical analysis was implemented by a three-dimensional finite element (FE) model using the commercial solver MARC™. Hardness values predicted by this model agreed well with those obtained experimentally. It was also observed that the load-displacement curves obtained numerically were quite similar to those presented by the literature for the Vickers testing. The maximum principal stress field was used to locate the most expected areas for crack formation and propagation during the Vickers indentation testing of WC-6Co.