Self-sensing model of low-frequency magnetostrictive composites actuator based on Jiles-Atherton theory

Giant magnetostrictive powder composites (GMPCs) have important applications in electric current sensing, stress sensing, vibration damping, actuation, health monitoring and other fields. Most of the research discussed the actuation or sensing function of GMPCs merely. In this paper, GMPCs based actuator with a self-sensing function is proposed to realize direct measurement of the deformation amplitudes of the actuator in low frequency, through monitoring the voltage signal of the driving circuit. It also means the actuator can be used as a compressive stress and magnetostriction sensor. The self-sensing actuator avoids the dependence on extra sensors for actuation detection, which complements the self-sensing technique in GMPC-based actuators. It is helpful not only in the designing and controlling of self-sensing applications in actuators, but also in expanding the applications of GMPCs in the field of integrated devices.