Characterization and modelling of in-situ La-based bulk metallic glass composites under static and dynamic loading

Samples of La-based bulk metallic glass composites (BMGC) were tested under both static and dynamic compression, and their deformation mechanism analysed. The strain rates imposed ranged from 6 × 10−5/s to 1.6 × 103/s. Quasi-static compression was performed using an Instron universal testing machine, while dynamic compression was applied by means of a Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB), which was used to study the rate sensitivity of this type of material. La-based BMGC samples with different degrees of crystallinity were also fabricated to examine the influence of crystalline volume fraction on the composite. A high speed infrared (IR) camera was employed to measure the temperature increase during deformation. This study focused on: (1) characterization of the deformation mechanism and strain rate sensitivity of BMGC; (2) the influence of crystalline volume fraction on BMGC material and (3) establishment of a large-deformation rate-independent thermomechanical constitutive model, suitable for incorporation a finite element analysis (FEA) code.