Deformation and fracture behavior of tungsten fiber-reinforced bulk metallic glass composite subjected to transverse loading

Deformation and fracture behavior of Zr41.25Ti13.75Ni10Cu12.5Be22.5 bulk metallic glass and its composite containing transverse tungsten fibers in compression were investigated. The monolithic metallic glass and the tungsten fiber composite specimens with aspect ratios of 2 and 1 are shown to have essentially the same ultimate strength under compression. The damage processes in the bulk metallic glass composite consisted of fiber cracking, followed by initiation of shear band in the glassy matrix mainly from the impingement of the fiber crack on the fiber/matrix interface. The site of the shear band initiation in the matrix is consistent with the prediction of finite element modeling. Evidence is present that the tungsten fiber can resist the propagation of the shear band in the glassy matrix. However, the compressive strain to failure substantially decreased in the present composite compared with the composites containing longitudinal tungsten fibers. Finally, the two composite specimens fractured in a shear mode and almost all the tungsten fibers contained cracks.