Role of cluster structure on the deformation behavior of Zr58Cu36Al6 metallic glass

Molecular dynamics simulations were used to simulate the process of tensile and compressive deformation of Zr58Cu36Al6 metallic glass (MG), and the variations of various cluster structures during the deformation were analyzed by the Voronoi tessellation method. The prepared Zr58Cu36Al6 alloy was found to be amorphous and the glass transition temperature obtained was about 753 K. In the deformation processes, the icosahedral-like clusters with the biggest quantity percentage decreased significantly and eventually, the damaged icosahedrallike clusters tended to be destroyed into "fragmented" clusters. Icosahedral-like clusters were more stable due to their lower average strain and shear stress compared to other clusters. The higher strain and shear stress of the clusters led to an earlier stress drop of Zr58Cu36Al6 MG during compression. However, the higher connectivity of the icosahedral network remained in Zr58Cu36Al6 MG making the overshoot stress and flow stress larger but lower plasticity in compression than those in tension.