In this paper, the whole Brinell hardness measurement
process was discussed from viewpoint of theoretical
mechanics. At first, a universal material testing machine
was employed to acquire material stress–strain characteristics,
then, indentation depth and diameter by finite element
analysis were calculated; in order to get the most
reliable Brinell hardness results and evaluate the practical
measurement uncertainty, the main measurement influencing
factors such as all error sources and external conditions
were calibrated by other high precision instruments,
and the practical Brinell hardness measurement process
was simulated by Monte Carlo method. This novel method
consists of the following seven steps, as described in