Abstract
The scope of the present work is to present a modified model extracted by finite element method (FEM) analysis for the nanoindentation of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The suggested model, based on Sneddon's equation, takes into account the specimen finite dimensions and the indenter curvature. Load–displacement curves from FEM analysis are obtained and compared with the experimental and those based on Sneddon's analysis. Sneddon's solution and FEM analysis deviate from the experiment. Thus, a new analysis is applied considering the finite tip radius effect, which results in the prediction of the elastic modulus of PDMS with 2% accuracy. A fitting analysis of a typical nanoindentation creep curve is performed using the Maxwell two-element model in order to obtain information about the time dependent properties of untreated and ultraviolet treated PDMS. The aforementioned method describes well the creep curve, especially the part attributed to viscous flow.
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