Evaluation of elastic and adhesive properties of solids by depth-sensing indentation

To describe properly interactions between contacting solids at micro/nanometre scales, one needs to know both adhesive and mechanical properties of the solids. Borodich and Galanov have introduced an effective method (the BG method) for identifying both characteristics from a single experiment on depth-sensing indentation by a spherical indenter using optimal fitting of the experimental data. Unlike traditional indentation techniques involving sharp indenters, the Borodich-Galanov methodology intrinsically takes adhesion into account. It is essentially a non-destructive approach. These features extend the scope of the method to important applications beyond the capabilities of conventional indentation. The scope of the original BG method was limited to the classic JKR and DMT theories. Recently, this restriction has been overcome by introducing the extended BG (eBG) method, where a new objective functional based on the concept of orthogonal distance curve fitting has been introduced. In the present work, questions related to theoretical development of the eBG method are discussed. Using the data for elastic bulk samples, it is shown that the eBG method is at least as good as the original BG method. It is shown that the eBG can be applied to adhesive indentation of coated, multilayered, functionally graded media.