Size effects in wedge indentation predicted by a gradient-enhanced crystal-plasticity model

A recently developed gradient-enhanced crystal-plasticity model is applied to predict the size effects in wedge indentation. In the model, the internal length scale is defined through standard quantities that appear in the underlying non-gradient hardening law. A careful calibration of the non-gradient hardening law is thus performed, and the model is validated against published experimental results. To this end, a comprehensive computational study of wedge indentation into a nickel single crystal is performed, and the obtained results show a good agreement with the experiment in terms of the load–penetration depth curves for three wedge angles, as well as in terms of the distributions of lattice rotation, GND density, and net Burgers vector. For the indentation depth of about 200 μm, as employed in the experiment, the predicted size effects are insignificant. Accordingly, the size effects are next studied for the indentation depth varied between 200 μm and 1 μm. As an intermediate result, apparently not published to date, the general 3D crystal plasticity model with anisotropic hardening is consistently reduced to a 2D plane-strain model in which plastic deformation is realized by three effective in-plane slip systems, each representing two crystallographic slip systems. •Crystal plasticity model employing the `minimal' gradient enhancement of the hardening law.•Consistent derivation of a 2D plane-strain CP model with three effective in-plane slip systems.•Comprehensive study of wedge indentation into a nickel single crystal for three wedge angles.•Load-depth curves, lattice rotations and GND distribution validated against experiment.•Prediction of the size effect on hardness, residual imprint, lattice rotation and GND distribution.