ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the various critical issues in small specimen testing. The role of specimen size in deformation/fracture and the transportability between different specimen sizes are to be considered for effective use of small specimen test results. The uniformity in the test procedures and data interpretation methods is the need of the hour to improve and demonstrate a high level of accuracy and reproducibility of test results. The characterization of mechanical properties with small size specimens involves the following issues: size effects and scaling to bulk material behavior; specimen design and preparation; tooling, force application, and strain measurements; and optimized procedures leading to standards. The rules for specimen dimensions for spherical indentation tests are the same as that set forth for hardness testing as per American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E 10 and E 384. Specimen orientation is of no consideration as long as the material behavior is isotropic.
