Statistical analysis on strain-rate effects during serrations in a Zr-based bulk metallic glass

By means of statistical analysis, the deformation mechanisms taking place in elastic loading and plastic shearing stages during serrated flows on the stress-strain curves for bulk metallic glasses were studied comprehensively. Normalized serration number presented a linear increasing tendency with the decrease of applied strain rates due to the reduction of free volumes. An excellent plastic deformation was illustrated from the influences of structure arrangement with activation energy. By using mean-field theory (MFT), maximum elastic-energy density at different strain rates could be predicted by MFT besides maximum stress drops during serrations. These results were helpful for understanding the serrated flow behavior or designing decent schemes to improve the plasticity of bulk metallic glasses at room temperature.