Strain-hardening and residual stress effects in plastic zones around indentations

Plastic zones were revealed by polishing away Vickers indentations made in soda-lime glass, WC–11% Co, W and 7075 Al. Micro and nanohardness traces were used to explore the local mechanical response. The hardness value within the deformed zone increased up to 21% depending on the material. Soda-lime glass was the only material not to show a hardening effect, in fact it showed a small decrease in hardness. Finite element calculations were used to qualitatively determine the influence from residual stresses at indentation of soda-lime glass. The results are discussed in the context of the influence from work-hardening and residual stresses on indentation quantities.