The effect of stress state on strain localization and subsequent failure of
a bulk metallic glass alloy is examined. It is shown that failure is assoc
iated with a critical tensile mean stress of 0.95 GPa. This is in contrast
with previous work utilizing superimposed compressive mean stresses, which
found that failure resulted at a critical effective stress. Interestingly,
the critical tensile mean stress measured in this study causes the same dil
atation as a 274 K temperature increase, nearly to the glass transition tem
perature. The effect of mean stress on elastic variation of the average fre
e volume is added to a strain localization model. This model describes the
compressive mean stress behavior very well, and predicts a strong sensitivi
ty to tensile mean stresses. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on
behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.