Strain rate and shear-transformation zone response of nanoindentation and nanoscratching on Ni50Zr50 metallic glasses using molecular dynamics

The mechanical properties and deformation behavior of Ni50Zr50 metallic glasses are investigated through nanoindentation and nanoscratching using molecular dynamics simulation. The effects of depth, temperature, and velocity on mechanical properties and deformation behavior of Ni50Zr50 are evaluated. The shear transformation zones become larger as increasing indentation depth or scratching length. The strain rate is sensitivity to the scratching velocity. The indentation force, Young's modulus and hardness increase as increasing velocity, however, decrease at a higher temperature. The scratching force rises with a deeper depth and reduces at a higher temperature. The pile-up increases as increasing indentation and scratching depth, indentation temperature. The hardness values vary from 5.0 to 10.5 GPa. The friction coefficient vibrates around 0.7.