Getting started

First of all, download the source code of the Matlab toolbox.

Source code is hosted at Github.

To have more details about the use of the toolbox, please have a look to :

Getting_started.txt

How to use the GUI for indentation data analysis ?

First of all a GUI is a Graphical User Interface.

  • Create or update your personal YAML config. file stored in the YAML folder

See here how to create / modify your YAML file…

  • Run the following Matlab script and answer ‘y’ or ‘yes’ to add path to the Matlab search paths :
path_management.m
  • Then, run the following Matlab script :
demo.m
  • The following window opens:
_images/GUI_Main_Window.png

Figure 2 Screenshot of the main window of the NIMS toolbox.

  • Import your (nano)indentation results, by clicking on the button ‘Select file’. Click here to have more details about valid format of data.
  • A load-displacement curve is plotted (with a power law fit). The loading work is also given in the title of the plot.
  • It is possible to plot the stiffness (raw data) without setting the GUI for Young’s modulus calculation.
_images/GUI_File_Selector.png

Figure 3 File selector.

_images/GUI_Main_Window_Lh_curve.png

Figure 4 Plot of the load-displacement curve after loading of data.

  • Choose and set (if needed) the indenter used to obtain (nano)indentation data.
  • Select the lowest and the highest depth values (optional).
  • Set the CSM correction (Berkovich indenter only !) (optional).
  • Set the number of layers of your sample (0 = only bulk material, 1/2/3 = 1 to 3 thin layers on a substrate) (see Figure 5).
_images/convention_multilayer.png

Figure 5 Convention use to define multilayer specimen.

  • Set the thickness, the Poisson’s coefficient and the Young’s modulus to each layer.
  • Select the model to use for the contact displacement calculation and select the correction to apply.
  • Select ‘Red. Young’s modulus(film+sub)’ or ‘Red. Young’s modulus(film)’ in order to plot the evolution of the reduced Young’s modulus (raw calculation) of the sample vs. the evolution of the reduced Young’s modulus (modeled) of the sample and/or of the thin film.
  • Select the analytical bilayer or the multilayer model to use for the modelling of the reduced Young’s modulus of the top thin film.
  • Press the button ‘SAVE’ and a YAML results file and a picture of the figure (.png format) are created and stored in the following folder.
  • Press the button ‘FEM’ and generate a Python script to model nanoindentation of multilayer sample based on parameters used in the GUI for ABAQUS.
_images/GUI_Main_Window_Esample_curve.png

Figure 6 Plot of the evolution of the Young’s modulus of the sample with the elastic multilayer model in function of the indentation depth.

_images/GUI_Main_Window_Efilm_curve.png

Figure 7 Plot of the evolution of the Young’s modulus of the film with the elastic multilayer model in function of the indentation depth.