By virtue of instability analysis, an index of shear banding susceptibility of metallic glasses (MGs): the critical strain localization factor to initiate an embryonic shear band:chi = gamma(b)/gamma(m) (gamma(b) shear strain in the embryonic shear band and gamma(m) in the matrix) is derived in analogue to the emergence of geometrically necessary dislocations (GND) in crystals. Physical properties, like Poisson ratiov, Young's modulus E and the surface energy density zeta, are explicitly incorporated into the formulae of chi with which the origin of the plasticity of MGs are unraveled. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.intermet.2015.11.010

The work is supported by the Nature Science Foundation of China (Grants Nos. 11132011, 11202221, and 11472287), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grants No. 2012CB937500), and the CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams.

Zhang M,Chen Y,Dai LH. An index of shear banding susceptibility of metallic glasses[J]. INTERMETALLICS,2016,71:12-17.