Influence of mechanical load bias on converse magnetoelectric laminate composites

A piezofiber/Metglas (PFM) magnetoelectric (ME) laminate has been integrated into a graphite epoxy composite (GEC) to study the converse ME effect (CME). Experimental data on a PFM/GEC subjected to both a dc magnetic field bias and a dc mechanical load bias while exciting it with an ac electric driving voltage are presented. Results of these tests indicate that both the mechanical load and the dc magnetic field strongly influence the CME response. Furthermore, an optimum mechanical load exists to maximize the CME coefficient, which should also be present in standalone ME laminates. These results reveal that the CME coefficient can be further increased with a proper mechanical load bias. Therefore, the selection of an appropriate mechanical preload as well as dc magnetic bias will maximize the CME response and sensitivity in ME laminates as well as integrated structural systems. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3362919]