Strong configurational dependence of elastic properties for a binary model metallic glass

In this work, the strong dependence of elastic properties on configurational changes in a Cu-Zr binary metallic glass assessed by molecular dynamics simulations is reported. By directly evaluating the temperature dependence and configurational potential energy dependence of elastic constants, the shear modulus dependence on the specific configurational inherent state of metallic glasses is shown to be much stronger than the dependence on Debye-Gruneisen thermal expansion. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.