Damage mechanisms of bulk metallic glasses under high-rate compression

Damage mechanisms of bulk metallic glasses under high-rate uniaxial compression are investigated for a basic understanding on their mechanical response in an impact event. A curved shearing path is found to drive the final fracture. Accompanying with deformation, the evolution of shear fracture angle, the corresponding characteristics of fracture surface morphologies and the indicated shearing velocity are illustrated. Compressive-zero-tensile transition of the local stress applied on the shear plane is revealed. Mohr circle is applied to analyze the change in macroscopic material strength. The relations of shear fracture angle, fracture surface morphology, local stress state, shearing velocity and macroscopic material strength are demonstrated. This work is significant to well understand the dynamic mechanical damage of bulk metallic glasses: strain softening and catactrophic fracture.