Abstract
The variations in local yield strength and plasticity of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass at different Active temperatures (T_f are studied. To probe the size and distribution of microscopic carriers of plasticity, spherical-tip nanoindentation and microindentation are employed. With nanoindentation, events signifying the departure from Hertzian elastic contact, which manifest as pop-ins in the load-displacement response and correspond to incipient plasticity, are recorded and analyzed. Results indicate that with increasing T_f, the incipient plastic event and the number of subsequent pop-ins increases. Using statistical analysis of the scatter in strength, the activation parameters for shear transformation zones (STZs) in all specimens are determined. By considering the linear accumulation of STZs to form a shear band, the increase in shear yield strength along with plasticity, with increasing T_f, is explained.
NSTL
Elsevier