Abstract
The main advantages of giant magnetostrictive materials (GMM) are their large magnetostriction (2000 ppm), their low Young's modulus (30 GPa), and the fact that they are softer than ordinary metals. Therefore, giant magnetostrictive material is suitable for use in the sound source of an ocean acoustic tomography system that requires low frequency, high power, small size, and a wideband vibrator. Several years ago, the development of a giant magnetostrictive vibrator was reported [H. Wakiwaka et al.: J. Magn. Soc. Jpn., 16, 389 (1992)]. Giant magnetostrictive material was used for the actuator, even though the cost of the material is high. The material gives the actuator a much higher power density than other actuator's.
This paper describes a method for calculating the limitation of the maximum output of the giant magnetostrictive vibrator, using the material properties and measurement data of the vibrator.
