Shear strength of a Zr-based metallic glass over a wide temperature range

The shear strength plays a critical role in constructing the yield criterion and in understanding the plastic deformation mechanism of glasses as well as designing their mechanical performance in engineering applications. However, experimentally measuring the shear strength of glasses remains a challenging issue due to their plastic flow dependent of the pressure/normal stress. Here, through a carefully designed mechanical method, we can measure the shear strength of metallic glasses (MGs) over a wide temperature range. The obtained strength data verify the cooperative shear model and the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion, which are commonly used to describe the plastic flow behaviors of MGs. The pure shear strength data also results in a precise determination of some key parameters for constructing yield criterion and constitutive deformation law in MGs.