A method for reducing the length difference of Vickers indentation diagonal

This paper aims to analyse the reason for the relatively large length difference of the diagonal of Vickers indentation on the tested material with mechanical anisotropy and propose a feasible method to reduce it. The Vickers hardness test results of the tested material with mechanical anisotropy have shown that the length difference of the diagonal of Vickers indentation on the tested material with mechanical anisotropy would be more than 5% very likely, which is against the test requirement of the related test standard and would affect the test accuracy and effectiveness of the Vickers hardness test. The finite element simulation results of the Vickers hardness test of the tested material with mechanical anisotropy have also shown that the anisotropy of mechanical properties of tested material would affect the length recovery of the diagonal of Vickers indentation on the surface of tested material, thereby affecting the difference of the diagonal length of Vickers indentation. This paper has proposed a method to decrease of diagonal length difference of Vickers indentation through rotating the indenter or the tested material properly and conducting a multiple Vickers hardness test, thereby improving the accuracy and effectiveness of the Vickers hardness test according to the related test standards.