Nonlinear magnetoelectric behavior of Terfenol-D/PZT-5A laminate composites

In this paper, a comprehensive experimental study and modeling of the nonlinear behavior of Terfenol-D/PZT-5A magnetoelectric laminate composites is reported. Magnetostriction versus magnetic field of an individual Terfenol-D sample of dimensions length = 22 mm, width = 19 mm, thickness = 0.683 mm, and polarization versus electric field as well as strain versus electric field of an individual PZT-5A sample of dimensions length = 22 mm, width = 19 mm, thickness = 0.127 mm were characterized. These samples were bonded to form a symmetric PZT-5A/Terfenol-D/PZT-5A laminate composite to avoid bending-extension coupling. Electric response of this composite to magnetic input was comprehensively characterized to include major loop and minor loop behavior. A modeling approach that structurally couples the nonlinear magnetostrictive Terfenol-D behavior and linear PZT-5A behavior to predict the magnetoelectric response was developed and validated against experimental results. This analysis, with further refinements, could prove to be a useful tool to model and design magnetoelectric sensors.