A study of the effect of prerelaxation on the nanoindentation process of crystalline copper

This paper examines how prerelaxation effects the development of the mechanics of a nanoindentation simulation. In particular, the force-depth relation, indentation stress-strain curves, hardness and elastic modulus, are investigated through molecular statics simulations of a nanoindentation process, starting from initial relaxation by: (i) molecular dynamics and (ii) molecular statics. It is found that initial relaxation conditions change the quantitative response of the system, but not the qualitative response of the system. This has a significant impact on the computational time and quality of the residual mechanical behaviour of the system. Additionally, the method of determining of the elastic modulus is examined for the spherical and planar indenter; and the numerical results are compared. An overview of the relationship between the grain size and hardness of polycrystalline copper is examined and conclusions are drawn.