The compressive behaviour after crystallisation in Zr85Cu15 metallic glasses studied by molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract The compressive mechanical properties at different strain rates were analysed in Zr 85 Cu 15 nanocrystal-metallic glass composites by molecular dynamics simulations. Results showed that, with the increasing strain rate, more shear transformation zones appeared simultaneously in the composites. The evolution and the homogeneity of the shear transformation zones of the composites were also studied and it was found that, at a low strain rate (5 × 10 7 s − 1 ), the plasticity of Zr 85 Cu 15 metallic glasses was higher than that of Zr 85 Cu 15 metallic glasses containing nanocrystalline components. However, at a high strain rate (10 9 s − 1 ), the deformation of the nanocrystal-metallic glass composites was more homogenous and their mechanical properties were better than those of other metallic glasses.