F. Abouhadid; B. Adogou; S. Sao-Joao; G. Kermouche; J. Michler; J.L. Loubet; G. Guillonneau
Tribology International 214 (2026) 111269
An intensive study combining experimental tests and numerical simulations was carried out to improve the
understanding of the micro-shear test using the Micro-shear Compression Specimen (MCS). The results
demonstrated good data reliability in the elastic regime up to the yield stress. However, the study also revealed
that friction between the flat punch and the MCS significantly affects the plastic regime, and must therefore be
accounted for to accurately extract shear mechanical properties. To overcome this limitation, two alternative
methods were developed. The first one consists in compressing a new type of micro-shear compression specimen,
featuring two perpendicular gauges forming a cross geometry (X-MCS). The second consists of applying multi
cycle loading to the conventional MCS. Both approaches successfully eliminated friction dependence in the
plastic regime, in contrast to the classical method. Finally, the X-MCS geometry was applied to very high strain
rate testing on fused silica. Thanks to the small gauge height of the X-MCS, it was possible to measure shear
mechanical properties at a strain rate of 104 s−1, which was not achieved using conventional micropillar
compression with our micromechanical setup. These methods provide a new pathway for extracting shear me
chanical properties, which are critical in the field of tribology, where surfaces are subjected to intense shear
deformation.