Trimodal shear band nucleation distribution in a Gd-based metallic glass via nanoindentation

Nucleation of shear bands is critical importance in the deformation behaviors metallic glasses, but detailed examination nucleation kinetics and correlation with structure relaxation has been few. Here, based upon instrumented nanoindentation spherical indenter a great deal observed first pop-in events, one unique trimodal distribution band events Gd-based glass was reported. Four different loading rates were employed to study evolution external loading. In analyses kinetics, site density, rate activation barrier for three obtained on cooperative model, which clearly display character. The discovery provides new insights understanding relationship between heterogeneous structure, mechanism opportunities controlling ductility amorphous alloys.