Energy-based constitutive model for magnetostrictive materials and its application to iron-gallium alloys

An energy-based constitutive model that can simulate the performance of magnetostrictive actuators and sensors along any of the crystallographic orientations was developed. This model was validated by comparing its predictions with experimental actuator characteristics (X-H and B-H curves) along the < 100 > and < 110 > directions as well as sensor characteristics (B-a curves) along the < 100 > direction of single crystal FeGa samples with similar to 18-19at.%Ga. These experimental characteristics were obtained using 1/4 inch diameter and I inch long, oriented single crystal rods grown using the Bridgman method by the DOE Ames Lab.