Simulation of the microhardness measurement of PVD coatings by use of FEM

Purpose: The purpose of the presented work is describing the numerical determination of coatingss microhardness obtained in PVD process with use of finite elements method and comparative analysis with results obtained by laboratory investigations. Design/methodology/approach: Article introduce the usage of finite elements method for simulation of the TiN coatings microhardess measurement. Coatings was obtained in magnetron PVD process on high-speed steel ASP 30 substrate. Simulation of indenters pit in investigated coat permitts in deformation disclosure of the PVD layer and allows to create the stresses maps. Findings: Basing on tensions acquired in result of the depression caused in investigated surfaces by the intenter the maps of stresses, the deformations of analyzed coats, and the microhardness was calculated. Research limitations/implications: On the tensions basis obtained in result of computer simulation effected in ANSYS software environment was possible to compute the microhardness of the coating. The results was compared with the microhardness of the coatings acquired by physical examination with use of the Vickers method. Originality/value: From results of the simulation based on the finite element method is possible to compute the mechanical properties of coatings obtained in PVD process.