This article describes common design criteria and identifies the design considerations that have a significant effect on the end product. The design criteria include cost, size, mechanical properties, repeatability and precision of parts, damage tolerance and durability, and environmental constraints.

This article provides a discussion on the equipment used and specimen preparation for microindentation hardness testing (MHT) such as the Vickers hardness test and the Knoop hardness test. It describes the important test considerations to be considered during MHT. The article also discusses the most common hardness conversions and the applications of MHT.

The gage repeatability and reproducibility (GRR) study is a procedure for determining the repeatability of a test instrument and the reproducibility of a specific gage in operation. This article reviews the general method of GRR studies and its application for indentation hardness testing. It describes a long method and a short method for evaluation of GRR. The article analyzes factors of hardness testing instruments and provides guidelines for hardness tests. It concludes with a list of suggestions that can improve hardness tests.

Standardization, repeatability, convenience, short testing time, and simple measuring and ranking techniques are desirable in wear and erosion tests. This article provides a brief review of the wear testing methods and wear and erosion test equipment. General elements of a wear test, namely, simulation, acceleration, specimen preparation, control, measurement, and reporting, are reviewed.