The contact stiffness widely used in nanoindentation test is based on the Hertzian contact theory for zero-interfacial friction (slip boundary condition), in which the effect of adhesion energy is ignored. However, in the real situation, the adhesion energy may not be negligible when the contact is adhesive. A solution of the contact stiffness is derived by using adhesive contact theory for both frictionless condition (the famous Johnson–Kendall–Roberts theory) and the sticky condition. The results show that the nominal contact stiffness depends on the adhesion energy and indenter size as well as the load applied to indenter. For a large size of indenter and small load, the adhesion energy controls the contact process; while for a large load, the elastic deformation dominates, in which the nominal contact stiffness approaches the result based on the Hertzian contact theory.

1.
F. Q.
Yang
,
Mech. Mater.
30
,
275
(
1998
).
Google Scholar
 
2.
J. C. M.
Li
,
J. Electron. Mater.
26
,
827
(
1997
).
Google Scholar
 
3.
W. D.
Nix
,
Mater. Sci. Eng., A
234
,
37
(
1997
).
Google Scholar
 
4.
W. W.
Gerberich
,
W.
Yu
,
D.
Kramer
,
A.
Strojny
,
D.
Bahr
,
E.
Lilleodden
, and
J.
Nelson
,
Acta Mater.
44
,
3169
(
1996
).
Google Scholar
 
5.
J. C.
Hay
,
A.
Bolshakov
, and
G. M.
Pharr
,
Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.
522
,
263
(
1998
).
Google Scholar
 
6.
W. C.
Oliver
and
G. M.
Pharr
,
J. Mater. Res.
7
,
1564
(
1992
).
Google Scholar
 
7.
D. F.
Bahr
,
C. M.
Watkins
,
D. E.
Kramer
, and
W. W.
Gerberich
,
Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.
522
,
83
(
1998
).
Google Scholar
 
8.
T. J.
Bell
,
J. S.
Field
,
F. J.
Lesha
, and
M. V.
Swain
,
Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc.
522
,
15
(
1998
).
Google Scholar
 
9.
S. P. Timoshenko and J. N. Goodier, Theory of Elasticity, 3rd ed. (McGraw–Hill, New York, 1970).
10.
D. A.
Spence
,
Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A
305
,
55
(
1968
).
Google Scholar
 
11.
K. L.
Johnson
,
K.
Kendall
, and
A. D.
Roberts
,
Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A
324
,
301
(
1971
).
Google Scholar
 
12.
F. Q.
Yang
,
X. Z.
Zhang
, and
J. C. M.
Li
,
Langmuir
17
,
716
(
2001
).
Google Scholar
 
13.
B. V. Derjaguin, N. V. Churaev, and V. M. Muller, Surface Forces (Consultants Bureau, New York, 1987).
14.
J. M. Thomas and W. J. Thomas, Introduction to the Principles of Heterogeneous Catalysis (Academic, New York, 1967).
15.
G. E.
Boyd
and
H. K.
Livingston
,
J. Am. Chem. Soc.
64
,
2383
(
1942
).
Google Scholar
 
16.
J. J.
Van Vorrhis
,
R. G.
Craig
, and
F. E.
Bartell
,
J. Phys. Chem.
61
,
1513
(
1957
).
Google Scholar
 
17.
N.
Hackerman
and
A. C.
Hall
,
J. Phys. Chem.
62
,
1212
(
1958
).
Google Scholar
 
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2002 American Institute of Physics.
2002
American Institute of Physics
You do not currently have access to this content.