Evaluating Plasticity of Steels through Continuous Ball Indentation Test

Continuous ball indentation test was carried on B16, Q345R, A106 and 2.25Cr1Mo steels. The load-displacement curve obtained from test was processed with the method mentioned in this paper in order to get the indentation plastic characterization parameter by introducing damage accumulation theory. At the same time, the traditional uniaxial tensile tests were applied on the steels to get area reduction rate, and the comparison between the indentation plastic characterization parameter obtained from the continuous ball indentation test and the area reduction rate. The results show that the indentation plastic characterization parameter of the steels with better plasticity was higher. The plastic characterization parameter can be a supplement parameter when the uniaxial tensile test cannot be carried.