Strain-rate dependence of hardening and softening in compression of a bulk-metallic glass

We investigated the effect of strain rate on the plastic-flow stress of a Zr-based bulk-metallic glass in quasistatic compression. The results indicate that the plastic-flow stress is dependent on the strain rate: an increase in the strain rate leads to a decrease in the plastic-flow stress, and vice versa. However, simply loading, unloading, and reloading at a constant strain rate do not change the plastic-flow stress. This strain-rate dependence of the plastic-flow stress may be related to shear-banding operations.