Dislocation-indenter interaction in nanoindentation.

A formulation of dislocation-indenter interaction in two-dimensional, isotropic elasticity is presented. A significant dislocation-indenter interaction is predicted when dislocations are nucleated very close to the indenter. This interaction is expected to have an important influence on dislocation motion and multiplication. Upon nucleation close to the indenter, the dislocations are shown to modify the load, load distribution, and moment acting on the indenter. This effect is seen to vary with the indentation contact length. Further away from the indenter, the indenter-dislocation interaction is shown to be negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]