Effective Properties of Magnetostrictive Composites Through Numerical Homogenisation
Topic(s) : Material and Structural Behavior - Simulation & Testing
Co-authors :
Pantea PANTEA AFSHARI (UNITED KINGDOM), Hamed YAZDANI NEZHAD (UNITED KINGDOM), Iasonas IASONAS TRIANTISAbstract :
In the current research, the response of magnetostrictive composites to external magnetic fields has been investigated. The composite, comprised of magnetic particles embedded in polymers, is distinguished by its ability to undergo dimensional, elastic, and electromagnetic changes in the presence of a magnetic field. Contrasting with bulk magnetostrictive metals, such composites possess superior qualities, including high resistivity, lightweight composition, effective formability, and enhanced mechanical properties, such as bending and tensile strength.
The present study introduces a computational methodology aimed at extracting homogenized effective properties of the magnetostrictive composites, consisting of an elastic polymer reinforced by magnetostrictive particles. To achieve this, a representative volume element (RVE) is developed to model the random and repetitive heterogeneous magnetic microparticles within the polymer. Employing finite element analysis in Abaqus, the RVE is numerically analyzed, and its effective elastic and magnetic properties are extracted through the application of periodic boundary conditions (PBC). It is imperative to highlight the implementation of MATLAB and Python coding for generating randomly distributing particles within the RVE and for applying PBC. The emphasis is also made on the formulation of the PBC that allows the simulation of all modes pertaining to the spatial mechanical deformation arising from any arbitrary combination of mechanical and magnetic loading. Furthermore, investigations are carried out to study the influence of various parameters such as the volume fraction, morphology, and distribution of the particles on the effective properties. To validate the numerical RVE model, its solution is compared with those derived from the analytical homogenization method and the experimental data obtained from quasi-static uniaxial tensile testing of dogbone specimens (made of iron particles embedded polylactic acid polymers) subjected to magnetic fields.
In conclusion, the comprehensive magneto-mechanical exploration offers a robust and nuanced understanding of the behavior of magnetostrictive polymer composites for magnetic field-assisted shaping (e.g., structural tailoring, novel morphing, or draping during composite manufacturing), paving the way for innovative advancements. This exploration opens new avenues for research and technological breakthroughs in the realm of advanced magnetic composites, providing a solid foundation for future developments in this promising field.
The present study introduces a computational methodology aimed at extracting homogenized effective properties of the magnetostrictive composites, consisting of an elastic polymer reinforced by magnetostrictive particles. To achieve this, a representative volume element (RVE) is developed to model the random and repetitive heterogeneous magnetic microparticles within the polymer. Employing finite element analysis in Abaqus, the RVE is numerically analyzed, and its effective elastic and magnetic properties are extracted through the application of periodic boundary conditions (PBC). It is imperative to highlight the implementation of MATLAB and Python coding for generating randomly distributing particles within the RVE and for applying PBC. The emphasis is also made on the formulation of the PBC that allows the simulation of all modes pertaining to the spatial mechanical deformation arising from any arbitrary combination of mechanical and magnetic loading. Furthermore, investigations are carried out to study the influence of various parameters such as the volume fraction, morphology, and distribution of the particles on the effective properties. To validate the numerical RVE model, its solution is compared with those derived from the analytical homogenization method and the experimental data obtained from quasi-static uniaxial tensile testing of dogbone specimens (made of iron particles embedded polylactic acid polymers) subjected to magnetic fields.
In conclusion, the comprehensive magneto-mechanical exploration offers a robust and nuanced understanding of the behavior of magnetostrictive polymer composites for magnetic field-assisted shaping (e.g., structural tailoring, novel morphing, or draping during composite manufacturing), paving the way for innovative advancements. This exploration opens new avenues for research and technological breakthroughs in the realm of advanced magnetic composites, providing a solid foundation for future developments in this promising field.