Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
The deformation and damage evolution behavior of a Ni-based bulk metallic glass composite reinforced with elongated brass phase is studied under cylindrical indentation. The estimated fracture toughness values based on the energy dissipation and the in-situ observation during the loading reveal the details of the damage evolution and toughening mechanisms in this composite system. The results indicate that the enhanced toughness of the BMG composite is plausibly an outcome of crack bridging mechanisms by the ductile brass phase, rather than a diffused array of nucleated shear bands in the hard BMG and arrest by the ductile reinforcing phase.