A systematic and precise study of deformed Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 BMGs for notable shear bands towards better global plasticity

Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 (Vit 105) bulk metallic glasses with varying deformation strains (1.6, 4.5, 6.6, 8.7, 10.8, and 12.5 %) were subjected to compressive deformation. The evolution of shear bands was systematically and mathematically conducted to investigate the impacts of largest plastic strains. It was observed that the average length of shear steps per unit area of surface increased with increasing plastic strain. The protruded areas exhibited non-uniform heights, which appeared to gradually extend as the plastic strain was increased. Mathematical formulation was employed to calculate the contribution of individual shear bands to the total strain, aiming to explore the microstructure and mechanical features of BMGs. This approach provided insights into the relationship between atomic-scale structure, local dynamics, and macroscopic mechanical behavior. Moreover, the contribution of shear bands to normal strain along with the assessment of congruent results for normal strain originating from shear bands were evaluated for attaining better global plasticity.