Abstract The indentation technique provides a non-destructive characterization method for in-service equipment. Recent years have seen an increased interest in determination of tensile properties from spherical indentation test (SIT) through inverse optimization theory, while this approach is computational costing and time consuming. This paper aims to propose a novel method for estimation of strength properties based on the application of a database. Firstly, systematically varied Ludwik constitutive parameter vectors were used to establish a database that contains indentation force-depth curves (extracted from the simulated results of indentation test) and corresponding strength values (calculated with the parameter vectors). The indentation force-depth curve of a concerned material was then processed by the database, as a result of which the yield and ultimate strengths can be obtained. A series of virtual materials were used to validate the accuracy of this method. The results show that the database method provides an impressive accuracy and stability in estimating strengths. The database method was subsequently applied to eight real materials. It is found that the predicted strengths agree well with the values from uniaxial tests for most materials, while the database method may be not suitable for materials that show obvious tension-compression asymmetry.

中文翻译：

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使用球形压痕试验和数据库估计金属的抗拉强度

摘要 压痕技术为在役设备提供了一种无损表征方法。近年来，人们越来越关注通过逆优化理论从球形压痕试验 (SIT) 确定拉伸性能，而这种方法计算成本高且耗时。本文旨在提出一种基于数据库应用的强度特性估计新方法。首先，系统地改变了Ludwik本构参数向量，建立了一个数据库，其中包含压痕力-深度曲线（从压痕测试的模拟结果中提取）和相应的强度值（用参数向量计算）。然后通过数据库处理相关材料的压痕力-深度曲线，因此可以获得屈服强度和极限强度。一系列虚拟材料被用来验证该方法的准确性。结果表明，数据库方法在估计优势方面提供了令人印象深刻的准确性和稳定性。随后将数据库方法应用于八种真实材料。发现对于大多数材料，预测的强度与单轴试验的值吻合得很好，而数据库方法可能不适用于表现出明显拉压不对称性的材料。