Hypervelocity impact on Zr51Ti5Ni10Cu25Al9 bulk metallic glass

In this study, the hypervelocity impact experiments were performed on Zr51Ti5Ni10Cu25Al9 bulk metallic glass using a two-stage light gas gun. The morphologies of the bullet holes exhibit three different regions: melting area, vein-pattern area, and radiating core feature area, suggesting that various regions experience different stress states during the hypervelocity impact. For the post-impact samples, the nano-hardness increases and plastic deformability decreases both with the increase in the distance from the bullet hole and with the decrease in the impact velocity, which is discussed by means of spherical stress wave theory and free-volume model.

► Hypervelocity impact experiments were performed on a bulk metallic glass.
► Morphology of the bullet hole presents three different regions.
► The post-impact samples keep glassy structure.
► Mechanical properties of the post-impact samples were studied by nanoindentation.
► Mechanical properties of the post-impact samples were discussed by free-volume model.