Effect of complex stress fields on the plastic energy accumulation in a Zr-based bulk metallic glass

In the practical applications of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) as structural materials, they always deform under complex stress states. In this work, some single-side-notched BMG specimens with varying notch radii and geometries were fabricated, and tested under tensile loadings. The effect of complex stress fields on the accumulation of plastic energy in the notched BMG specimens was examined and discussed. The results show that the notched BMGs can dissipate more plastic energy before fracture than conventional tensile specimens which have a relatively-uniform stress distribution. To accumulate more plastic energy, it necessitates high orders of stress concentration to initiate more shear bands and appropriate distribution of complex stress fields to confine their propagations. The present findings are of significance for practical structural-applications of BMGs, where complex stress fields are usually presented.