UDC 539.37 THEORETICAL MODEL OF KINETIC INDENTATION OF RIGID PYRAMIDAL INDENTER IN TOPOCOMPOSITE © N.A. Voronin, DSc, Blagonravov Mechanical Engineering Research Institute of RAS, Moscow, Russia Abstract. <...> The paper presents the results of an analysis of the mechanics of contact between a rigid sphere and an elastic rigidly plastic two-layer half-space (monolayer topocomposite) that imitates a surface covered with a thin hard coating. <...> An analytical expression describing the behavior of the load on the hard pyramidal indenter from the depth of penetration of the indenter in topocomposite was obtained. <...> INTRODUCTION Among the known methods of non-destructive testing of mechanical properties of machine parts the most widely methods of hardness testing are used. <...> Microhardness of thin coatings, topocomposites and small local volumes (structural elements of the material) is determined by the size of the imprint. <...> In the technique of measuring the microhardness of thin coatings on the basis of numerous experimental data it is assumed that the measured hardness corresponds (or closer) to the value of the true hardness of the coating material only if the indentation depth under the tetrahedral diamond prism was 1/8 – 1/10 of the thickness of the coating. <...> Implementation the required conditions for the indentation depth is often difficult due to substantial errors, both due to inaccurate measuring small in magnitude diagonal (depth) imprint and impact of making mistakes tip of the diamond pyramid. <...> At greater depths the calculated surface microhardness is complex (composite) value, and, according to many researchers, taking into account not only the hardness of the coating, but the base material. <...> However, measuring the size of the imprint under moderate loads on the indenter, providing highly visible imprint, provides high accuracy in determining the size of the imprint and good repeatability of experiments, decreases the contribution of manufacturing inaccuracies of the indenter in the estimated value of microhardness. <...> Using the advantages of such approach, many researchers have developed various methods of calculating the true hardness of the coating on the results of the experimental determination of the effective surface hardness. <...> As the indenter a Vickers diamond pyramid or carbide ball of small diameter is usually used. <...> The material of a top layer has elastic characteristics – the module of normal elasticity E1 tio µ1 and yield point (initial tensile yield stress) σT1 a material of a base – characteristics E0 For the specified topocomposite <...>