COMPARISON OF ROCKWELL B HARDNESS (HRB) TESTS USING STEEL AND TUNGSTEN CARBIDE BALL INDENTERS

摘要

Significant measurement differences occur in Rockwell B hardness (HRB) tests when using 1.588 mm diameter ball indenters made of steel and tungsten carbide (WC). In this paper, finite element analysis (FEA) is used to simulate the HRB indentation process using steel, tungsten carbide and rigid ball indenters on the same tested materials under the same testing conditions. The influence of the deformable indenters (made of steel and WC) on the HRB indentation is assessed by comparing their FEA results with those of a non-deformable rigid indenter. The deformations of both the indenters and tested materials during the loading and unloading period are analyzed. The effect of deformable ball indenters on HRB hardness measurement values is discussed and further verified by experiments.