Analysis of the size effect in the nanoscratching process of single crystalline and polycrystalline materials
Scientific Reports, vol.15, no.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 15 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2025
- Doi Number: 10.1038/s41598-025-15595-4
- Journal Name: Scientific Reports
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Keywords: Crystal plasticity, Nanoscratch tests, Size effect, Strain gradient
- Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
In tribology, nanoscratch testing is used to evaluate the mechanical and tribological properties of materials by employing a nanoscale indenter. At this scale, size-dependent plasticity effects, particularly those related to scratch hardness, become significant. Additionally, the anisotropic nature of crystalline materials means that the crystal orientation of the samples plays a crucial role. This study focuses on investigating the effects of indentation, grain size, and crystal orientation by applying the finite element method (FEM) with a lower-order strain gradient crystal plasticity framework. Results for scratch hardness, friction coefficient, and pile-up patterns are analyzed to identify the experimental trends, providing insights into how size and orientation effects influence material behavior in nanoscratch testing.