By using a two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model, the indentation hardness has been studied with different combinations of material properties at different indentation depths. As the forward problem, the testing hardness is not only a function of material properties (E, σy, and n), indenter geometry (half apex angle, indenter shape), and friction, but also relating to the indentation depth. Based on the previous research on size effect, a model of correlation between several indentation experiment parameters (hardness H, maximum load Pm, and loading curvature C) and material properties has been derived. From simulation results, a better fitting result is obtained by the established model. Furthermore, the characteristic length h∗ in Nix/Gao model has been rewritten and discussed with material properties accordingly.

In this paper, a modeling method was introduced for SiC particle reinforced aluminum matrix composite. Micro-indentation technique was used to study the micro properties of both SiC particles and aluminum matrix with Micro-Compression-Tester. Mechanical properties like Young's modulus and hardness were calculated using Oliver and Pharr method. After repeated experiments, the average Young's modulus and the hardness of matrix and particle were calculated as 76.8 and 334.7 GPa, 1.58 and 32.56 GPa, respectively. During the indentation experiments on particle, the phenomenon of particle acting as “second indenter” was detected from the recorded P–h curves. Besides, the material elastic–plastic properties of matrix were analyzed using inverse method. Based on the micro material properties from indentation, the indentation processing of particle as second indenter has been simulated. Also, the simulation model at micro scale has been established by using such material properties for further investigation.

Equal channel angular pressing is both a novel and an industrialized process among severeplastic deformation methods to fabricate ultra-fine-grained metals and alloys.Verification of a three-dimensional finite element model which compares various strengthcoefficients and strain-hardening exponents (virtual materials) defined for the plasticdeformation behavior of materials was performed with experimental tests. The virtualprocess numerically analyzed the effects of the strain behavior and pressing force. Theresults show that strength coefficient enhancement leads to decreased effective strainvalue, heterogeneous strain distribution and higher pressing force, and an increment inthe strain-hardening exponent results in lower pressing force. However, this parameterdoes not have an obvious effect on the effective strain magnitude and strain dispersaluniformity. Furthermore, the highest imposed effective strain, the best straindistribution homogeneity and the lowest required punch load were achieved for the deformedmaterial with the lowest strength coefficient and highest strain-hardening exponent.