Rate-dependent inhomogeneous-to-homogeneous transition of plastic flows during nanoindentation of bulk metallic glasses: Fact or artifact?

There has been considerable controversy over the "apparent" rate-dependent transition from inhomogeneous-to-homogeneous flow during nanoindentation of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) at room temperature: whether it arises from the existence of homogeneous-flow regime in BMG deformation map or is an artifact due to the instrumental blurring at high rates. To provide a clue to address this dispute, the authors performed nanoindentation experiments on a Zr-based BMG with two geometrically self-similar indenters. The results are discussed in terms of the discrete plasticity ratio, which is a useful parameter in analyzing the contribution of inhomogeneous plasticity to the total plastic deformation. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.