Effect of hydrostatic pressure on shear banding behaviors in bulk metallic glasses

We report the effect of hydrostatic pressure on shear banding behaviors of a bulk metallic glass (BMG) Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 (Vit 1). A confining sleeve technique was used to apply multiaxial compression. The density of shear bands increased along a direction with the increase of hydrostatic pressure from 0 MPa to 550 MPa. Interestingly, as the hydrostatic pressure increased to 680 MPa, branching phenomenon was emerged in the shear band, and shear bands were intersected with the hydrostatic pressure further increased to 960 MPa. At the maximum hydrostatic pressure of 1940 MPa, intersection sites increased and branching phenomenon could be also observed simultaneously. The present results suggest that the hydrostatic pressure has an important influence on the formation and propagation of the shear band in BMGs.

► We examine the hydrostatic pressure effect on shear banding behaviors of BMG.
► Increasing hydrostatic pressure will increase the density of shear bands.
► Increasing hydrostatic pressure will change shear banding behaviors of BMG.