Nonlinear bending response of giant magnetostrictive laminated actuators in magnetic fields

We report numerical and experimental investigations into the nonlinear bending behavior of magnetostrictive laminated actuators under magnetic fields. Magnetostrictive actuators were fabricated from thin layers of Terfenol-D and metal, and the magnetostriction of the devices was measured. A nonlinear finite element analysis was employed to evaluate the contribution of magnetic domain switching to the second-order magnetoelastic constants in the Terfenol-D layer. The effect of a magnetic field on the nonlinear deflection and internal stress of magnetostrictive laminated actuators is discussed.