Fracture characteristics of bulk metallic glass under high speed impact

High speed impact experiments of rectangular plate-shaped Zr₄₁Ti₁₄Cu_12.5Ni₁₀Be_22.5 bulk metallic glass (BMG) were performed using a two-stage light gas gun. Under spherical shock waves with impact velocities ranging from 0.503 km/s to 4.917 km/s, obvious traces of laminated spallation at the back (free) surface and melting (liquid droplets) at the impact point were observed. The angles about 0°, 17°, 36°, and 90° to the shocking direction were shown in the internal samples because of the interaction between the compressive shock waves and the rarefaction waves. The compressive normal stress was found to induce the consequent temperature rise in the core of the shear band.