Effect of strain rate on compressive behavior of Ti45Zr16Ni9Cu10Be20 bulk metallic glass

Compressive behavior of Ti45Zr16Ni9Cu10Be20 (numbers indicate at.%) bulk metallic glasses was investigated at strain rates ranging from 10−4 to 10−1 s−1. Little effect of strain rate on the mechanical properties is observed in an amorphous specimen when the strain rates are below 10−3 s−1. An appreciable total strain of about 5% is observed and the plastic flow is serrated. However, a positive strain rate dependence of yield strength is found when the strain rate reaches 10−1 s−1, which is reported for the first time in metallic glasses under a compressive loading condition. Further, the macroscopic plastic strain distinctly decreases and flow serration vanishes at a high strain rate. A comparison of the significantly different mechanical behavior of Ti45Zr16Ni9Cu10Be20 bulk metallic glass with other bulk metallic glass systems is also presented.