On the applicability of the small punch test to the characterization of the 1CrMoV aged steel: Mechanical testing and numerical analysis

he life extension of a component in service is of great importance in many engineering applications and it relies on the possibility of monitoring the material degradation during in-service loading. In this view, non-destructive testing is needed in order to be able to evaluate the material properties while keeping the component in service. The present work focuses on a miniature mechanical test named small punch test, which has been employed on virgin and aged 1CrMoV steel in order to characterise its mechanical behaviour. A thorough experimental analysis has been carried out using classical and min- iature mechanical tests and the results have been compared in order to evaluate the feasi- bility of the small punch test to the characterisation of an aged steel. A numerical framework based on finite element simulations is also presented to support the findings of the experimental tests. Starting from the simulation of a typical load–dis- placement curve given by the small punch test, the elastic–plastic parameters have been identified and applied in the simulation of the tensile tests. Experimental results and non-uniqueness of the mathematical problem associated to the identification of the material parameters are discussed.