Abstract: This invention relates to a new portable device with no solid frame, which makes it possible to carry out instrumented indentation of a material to deduct its mechanical properties. Continuous or instrumented indentation consists in measuring the force and displacement when an indenter is pushed into the tested material. The device is made up of a sleeve with a reduced volume and its lower base, which may be of variable shapes adapted to that of the material to test, a piston sliding in the sleeve, the displacement of which is controlled by the hand of a user, a manipulating arm, a mechanical column or a robot, an elastic ring or a spring limiting the displacement of the piston, three displacement sensors arranged in an equilateral triangle around a single-piece indenter having any shape, and a force sensor that makes it possible to measure the change in the force depending on the depression made by the indenter in the tested material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous or instrumented indentation device for a material. The indentation device includes an indenter, a bearing means for the material to be indented, a means for moving the indenter and/or the bearing means for contacting the indenter with the material to be indented, and for pressing the indenter into the material, and a means for measuring the force and movement of the indenter when the indenter is pressed into the material. The bearing means includes a convex surface for receiving the material to be indented and is oriented towards the indenter so that the material is capable of bearing on the convex surface. The indenter may comprise a one-piece structure. The means for measuring the movement of the indenter when the indenter is pressed into the material includes at least three movement sensors angularly arranged at an equal distance about the indenter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new portable device with no solid frame, which makes it possible to carry out instrumented indentation of a material to deduct its mechanical properties. Continuous or instrumented indentation consists in measuring the force and displacement when an indenter is pushed into the tested material. The device is made up of a sleeve with a reduced volume and its lower base, which may be of variable shapes adapted to that of the material to test, a piston sliding in the sleeve, the displacement of which is controlled by the hand of a user, a manipulating arm, a mechanical column or a robot, an elastic ring or a spring limiting the displacement of the piston, three displacement sensors arranged in an equilateral triangle around a single-piece indenter having any shape, and a force sensor that makes it possible to measure the change in the force depending on the depression made by the indenter in the tested material.

Abstract: The invention particularly relates to a so-called continuous or instrumented indentation device for a material, which includes: an indenter; a bearing means for the material to be indented; a means for moving the indenter and/or the bearing means for contacting said indenter with said material and for pressing the indenter into the material; a means for measuring the force and the movement of the indenter when the same is pressed into the material. The bearing means includes a convex surface for receiving said material and oriented towards the indenter so that said material is capable of bearing on said surface; said indenter is one-piece structure. The means for measuring the movement of the indenter when the same is pressed into the material includes at least three movement sensors angularly arranged at an equal distance about said indenter.