Dynamic modelling of giant magnetostriction in Terfenol-D rods by the finite element method

As a contribution to the development of methods for the design and the analysis of devices based on giant magnetostrictive materials, a model for the simulation of the dynamic behaviour of the nonlinear magnetoelastic medium is presented. The coupled magnetic, magnetoelastic and mechanical equations that describe the magnetostrictive problem are solved by means of the finite element method. The thin sheets bending principle (surface splines) is used to introduce in the simulation the nonlinear properties of giant magnetostrictive materials, obtained by static characterizations.