| Abstract Scope |
Materials exposed to extreme conditions demand precise mechanical characterization to ensure reliable performance. Instrumented nanoindentation, a cornerstone technique for evaluating hardness and modulus at small scales, can be compromised by overlooked variables such as mounting-induced compliance. This study systematically quantifies how sample mounting configurations affect nanoindentation measurements of fused silica, an isotropic, depth-independent reference. By combining experiments across eleven mounting conditions with finite element modeling, we reveal how local compliance, substrate choice, adhesive thickness, and mounting geometry distort measured properties by up to 11% in hardness and 9% in modulus. These findings can help to improve the quality of nanoscale measurements to achieve bulk-scale reliability and reproducibility. Our results provide practical guidelines for minimizing mounting errors, supporting more accurate assessments of materials designed for high strain rate, high temperature, and other environments where precision is critical to predict deformation and failure mechanisms. |