On the propagation of methodological uncertainties in Depth Sensing Indentation data analysis: A brief and critical review

Abstract

A systematic and critical review about the propagation of uncertainties related to the Depth Sensing Indentation data analysis standard procedures and its effect on the estimation of Young´s modulus of materials is reported. Uncertainties related to experimental issues like calibration of indenter area profile and determination of effective applied force and their propagation in estimating the indenter-sample reduced elastic modulus were discussed. On the other hand, theoretical uncertainties related to the contact mechanics fundamentals used for calculating the Young´s modulus of materials by using experimentally determined reduced elastic modulus in indentation experiments were also discussed. Theoretical uncertainties associated to assume fixed values for the mechanical properties of the indenter (Poisson´s ratio and Young´s modulus) and sample (Poisson´s ratio) to estimate the sample Young´s modulus were studied. In general, all the results suggest the experimental uncertainties are the main source of error in estimating the sample Young´s modulus, however the uncertainties associated to theoretical procedures can be comparable with them in some cases.