Pressure effects on metallic glasses

The effects of normal stress/superimposed pressure on the flow/fracture of two different zirconium-based glasses and a hafnium-based bulk metallic glass (BMG) tested at Case Western Reserve University is presented. These results are compared with the pressure sensitivity of the bulk modulus and shear modulus of amorphous metals in the manner previously conducted by Spitzig and Richmond for crystalline metals. Although few experimental results of this nature exist, the data obtained to date reveal minimal normal stress/pressure sensitivity for the BMG examined in this study, consistent with the small pressure dependence of the shear modulus. Comparison with various yield/fracture criteria is also provided.