On rate-dependent serrated flow behavior in amorphous metals during nanoindentation

Strain rate-dependent serrated flow behavior in amorphous metals under instrumented indentation has been demonstrated in recent years. It is argued that the rate-dependence results from either the number of shear bands that operate at every instant or the instrumental resolution. In this paper, an experimental study and an analysis of the physical process of the pop-in event in amorphous metals during nanoindentation are presented, which may provide further understanding of the origin of the rate-dependent serrated flow.