High-speed Imaging of a Bulk Metallic Glass During Uniaxial Compression

High-speed imaging directly correlates the propagation of a particular shear band with mechanical measurements during uniaxial compression of a bulk metallic glass. Imaging shows shear occurs simultaneously over the entire shear plane, and load data, synced and time-stamped to the same clock as the camera, reveal that shear sliding is coincident with the load drop of each serration. Digital image correlation agrees with these results. These data demonstrate that shear band sliding occurs with velocities on the order of millimeters per second. Fracture occurs much more rapidly than the shear banding events, thereby readily leading to melting on fracture surfaces.