Loading rate effect on inelastic deformation in a Zr-based bulk metallic glass

In order to study the loading rate-sensitive shear band formation, nanoindentation tests with a cube corner indenter were carried out on Zr55Al10Ni5Cu30 (numbers indicate at.%) amorphous alloy. Significant influence of the loading rate on the inelastic deformation was studied by analyzing the remnant indent morphology using three-dimensional visualization tools. Indented volume increased (in contrast, pile-up volume upheaved around indent decreased) with the increase of loading rate. The deformation morphology change was discussed from the susceptibility of multidirectional shearing at high loading rate by the increase of hydrostatic stress.