Strain distribution in Zr64.13Cu15.75Ni 10.12Al10 bulk metallic glass investigated by in situ tensile tests under synchrotron radiation

Abstract

We report on the evolution of the atomic-scale strain tensor of ductile Zr64.13Cu15.75Ni10.12Al10 bulk metallic glass under tensile loading by using x-ray synchrotron radiation. The same kind of samples was previously investigated under compressive loading and revealed yielding at 1690 MPa together with large deformability of up to 160% strain. In tension the samples fracture at a lower stress, 1500 MPa, with no sign of yielding or plastic deformation. With no macroplasticity observed under tension, large differences in the elastic constants obtained from the strain tensor and from ultrasonic sound velocity measurements are revealed. This paper presents in detail the measuring procedure as well as the calculation of the tensile tensor and pair distribution functions of Zr64.13Cu 15.75Ni10.12Al10 at different stages of deformation. The results are discussed in comparison with other reported data obtained from x-ray diffraction measurements using synchrotron radiation. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.