In the current work a novel method has been suggested to attain material characterizations through Knoop indentation without any insight observations. Holloman model is supposed as material model in which yield stress and work hardening exponent are noticeable material properties to derive. An extensive series of indentation simulations have been performed using Abaqus Software. Also tensile test and experimental indentations have been performed to confirm simulations. In experimental procedure LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformation) is employed to record the results without any additional machine deformations. Force-Displacement curves (F-D curve) of materials during indentation process have been investigated thoroughly to find appropriate trends. Three distinct parameters which are maximum force, indentation work and concavity of loading curve have been extracted to make different materials distinctive from each other. In follow an error function is constituted using summation of three fitted equations to F-D curve items. In order to achieve yield stress and work hardening exponent, an optimization process has been performed through genetic algorithm. As can be observed there is an acceptable agreement between anticipated material properties with those real one. Achieved results evidently confirmed that the proposed method works precisely and can be used as a non-destructive method to obtain yield stress and work hardening exponent.
