Bending of iron-gallium (Galfenol) alloys for sensor applications

This project investigates the magnetomechanical sensing behavior of iron-gallium alloys in response to applied bending loads in order to provide an experimental and analytic framework for implementing this material in novel sensor applications at the nanoscale. A series of experiments are conducted on millimeter sized cantilevered beams to verify that the material is mechanically sound as well as magnetically active in this loading configuration, with results showing a change in magnetic induction of as much as 0.3 T occurring at twice the frequency of beam vibration. These results agree well with an analytic system model based on nonlinear free energy terms. Initial work has begun on visualizing and characterizing arrays of iron-gallium nanowires, with an atomic force microscope providing preliminary images as well as force and deflection data.