Hardness measurements must be made at several locations on both the undeformed and fractured sample used in the tensile properties measurements. Take sufficient readings to permit a mean hardness and standard deviation to be determined.

Is the hardness uniform in the undeformed sample?

Is the hardness uniform in the fractured sample? If not, what conclusions can you draw from consideration of the sample shape and the pattern of deformation produced in the test?

Do hardness measurements made close to each other effect the measured hardness values? If so, how far apart should these measurements be made?

Do hardness values depend on how close to the sample edge they are made? Why?