Structural changes in a metallic glass under cyclic indentation

Using molecular dynamics simulation, a CuZr metallic glass was subjected to cyclic indentation to investigate cyclic hardening. Structural changes occurring after each indentation cycle were analyzed by examining the radial changes of the structural motifs in the vicinity of the indenter surface. The analysis revealed initial local structural modifications that corresponded to a more relaxed glass state, followed by a slow restoration of the initially destroyed structures. These findings provide new insights into the microstructural causes of cyclic hardening in metallic glasses.