  The effect of small-amplitude periodic shear on annealing of a shear band in
binary glasses is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The shear
band is first introduced in stable glasses via large-amplitude periodic shear,
and then amorphous samples are subjected to repeated loading during thousands
of cycles at strain amplitudes below the yield strain. It was found that with
increasing strain amplitude, the glasses are relocated to deeper potential
energy levels, while the energy change upon annealing is not affected by the
glass initial stability. The results of mechanical tests indicate that the
shear modulus and yield stress both increase towards plateau levels during the
first few hundred cycles, and their magnitudes are largest when samples are
loaded at strain amplitudes close to the yield strain. The analysis of
nonaffine displacements reveals that the shear band breaks up into isolated
clusters that gradually decay over time, leading to nearly reversible
deformation within the elastic range. These results might be useful for
mechanical processing of metallic glasses and additive manufacturing.
