Invariant critical stress for shear banding in a bulk metallic glass

Through uncovering the macroscopic true stress after correction with the instant load-bearing area, we found that the critical stress for continuous shear banding of a bulk metallic glass (BMG) maintains invariant on and after yielding as the plastic deformation progresses. This finding is in strong contrast with the previous reports of either "strain hardening" or "strain softening" associated with the plastic deformation of BMGs. Our results point out that atomic cohesive energy constantly serves to be the controlling factor of the critical stress for shear banding.