Size effects during nanoindentation: Molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract

In this chapter, the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of nanoindentation experiment is revisited. The MD simulation provides valuable insight into the atomistic process occurring during nanoindentation. First, the simulation details and methodology for MD analysis of nanoindentation are presented. The effects of boundary conditions on the nanoindentation response are studied in more detail. The dislocation evolution patterns are then studied using the information provided by atomistic simulation. Different characteristics of metallic sample during nanoindentation experiment, which have been predicted by theoretical models, are investigated. Next, the nature of size effects in samples with small length scales are studied during nanoindentation. The results indicate that the size effects at small indentation depths cannot be modeled using the foresthardening model, and the source exhaustion mechanism controls the size effects at the initial stages of nanoindentation. The total dislocation length increases by increasing the dislocation density which reduces the material strength according to the exhaustion hardening mechanisms. The dislocation interactions with each other become important as the dislocation content increases. Finally, the effects of grain boundary (GB) on the controlling mechanisms of size effects are studied using molecular dynamics.