The Elastic Indentation of Coating–Substrate Systems with Large Difference in the Young Moduli

A theoretical and experimental analysis of the elastic indentation test (spherical indenter) of coated substrates is performed. An analytic solution of the problem is used to calculate both the deformation of the stresses in the substrate and the thin film. In particular, the stress distribution in the interface between coating and substrate is investigated in detail. The Mises criterion for plastic deformation of special substrate-film conbinations is calculated, too.