Application of Giant Magnetostrictive Materials for Sonar Transducers

Giant magnetostrictive material (Terfenol-D) has been extensively used in many applications such as actuators and sonar projectors. However, its major disadvantage is the relative high price due to the complication of manufacturing process. A high strain at moderate field can only be obtained with the single crystal or grain oriented polycrystal. In addition, the use of Terfenol-D is limited at high frequencies because its electrical conductivity is as high as metals. Overcoming this problem by using laminated or rolled sheets of Terfenol-D requires expensive techniques due to their brittleness. In this paper, we present studies on the behavior of Terfenol-D rod under dynamic condition in a Tonpilz type transducer. In addition, a Zinc-bonded sample is prepared and measured to compare with that of the bulk material.