On the contact area for nanoindentation tests with Berkovich indenter: case study on soda-lime glass

Nanoindentation data measured on soda-lime glass were analyzed by assuming that the test material has a load-independent hardness number. The area function was established with a simple analysis method. It was shown that the deviations of the determined area function from the perfect Berkovich geometry may be attributed to two factors, one being the indenter tip rounding and the other being the deformation of the indenter during indentation.