Effect of W volume fraction on dynamic mechanical behaviors of W fiber/Zr-based bulk metallic glass composites

The effect of W volume fraction (Vf) on dynamic mechanical behavior of W fiber/Zr-based bulk metallic glass composites (Wf/BMGCs) was investigated by split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) and finite element method (FEM). The yield strength increased with the increase of Vf under both quasi-static and dynamic compression, and the dynamic flow stress is obviously greater than that under quasi-static compression. The fracture strain also increased with the increase of Vf under dynamic compression, which is different from that the composite with ~70 vol% W exhibited the highest fracture strain under quasi-static compression. With the increase of Vf under both quasi-static and dynamic compression, the failure mode of the composites changed from shearing to a mixture of shearing and splitting, and lastly only splitting. High strain rate suppressed macro-shearing but promoted micro-shearing and splitting compared to that under low strain rate, which is suggested to be the reason why the composites exhibited different rules of strain rate-related fracture strain under quasi-static and dynamic compression.