What does Brinell hardness test measure?

• A. Indentation hardness using a tungsten carbide ball under a specific load
• B. Surface roughness
• C. Tensile strength of a material
• D. Hardness based on scratch resistance

Answer: (A)

Brinell hardness test measures indentation hardness produced by pressing a tungsten carbide ball into the material under a specified load. After the indentation is made, the diameter of the circular imprint is measured, and hardness is determined from the load and the size of the indentation, yielding a numerical Brinell hardness value that reflects how resistant the material is to plastic deformation under that spherical contact. This method emphasizes how a material resists denting from a spherical indenter rather than surface texture, so it’s not a measure of surface roughness. It also isn’t directly tied to tensile strength from a tensile test, which gauges behavior under pulling load, or to scratch resistance, which assesses damage from scratching. Therefore, the description of indentation hardness using a tungsten carbide ball under a fixed load is the best fit.