Title: Hybrid algorithm for identifying the nanomechanical properties of materials and thin films: application to tribological transfer films

Authors: Philippe Stempfle, Frederic Schafer

Addresses: Laboratoire Genie de Production – ENIT, 47 Avenue d'Azereix, 65016 TARBES Cedex, France. ' Laboratoire Genie de Production – ENIT, 47 Avenue d'Azereix, 65016 TARBES Cedex, France

Abstract: This paper presents an inverse method, combining nanoindentation and numerical simulation, enabling to identify the mechanical properties of materials, thin coatings and tribological transfer films. It describes details of the implementation of a Tabu search algorithm, tests its effectiveness and shows that the Tabu search aptitude can be enhanced by combining with a quasi-Newton descent algorithm. An analytical model of nanoindentation is used but the algorithm is independent of the chosen numerical model (FEM, BEM...). The procedure is carried out successfully on various reference samples and coatings and finally used for identifying mechanical properties of tribological transfer films generated in dry contacts.

Keywords: nanoindentation; inverse method; identification; global optimisation; Tabu search; tribological transfer films; nanomechanical properties; materials properties; thin films; numerical simulation; dry contacts.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2007.015026

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2007 Vol.1 No.2/3, pp.213 - 238

Published online: 05 Sep 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article