Conjugated distribution of shear bands in a CuZr-based bulk metallic glass subjected to severe deformation

Abstract

The correlation between the serration dynamics and the distribution of multiple shear bands was investigated in a Cu47.5Zr47.5Al5 bulk metallic glass (BMG) after severe deformation up to the plastic strain ~60%. By a statistical analysis on the serration size of different plastic strain levels, it was found that both the stress drop and the exponent from the power-law distribution become stable when the deformation strain is above 45%. This stable distribution of power-law is closely related with conjugated distribution of multiple shear band patterns. We explained this stable phenomenon by referring to the conjugation concept in the chemistry field. The conjugated distribution of multiple shear bands accompanied with the stable stress drop could provide a useful guide to design a stable BMG system and investigate its corresponding micromechanism of plastic deformation.