An analytical nonlinear model for laminate multiferroic composites reproducing the DC magnetic bias dependent magnetoelectric properties

In this work, we propose an analytical nonlinear model for laminate multiferroic composites in which the magnetic-field-induced strain in magnetostrictive phase is described by a standard square law taking the stress effect into account, whereas the ferroelectric phase retains a linear piezoelectric response. Furthermore, differing from previous models which assume uniform deformation, we take into account the stress attenuation and adopt non-uniform deformation along the layer thickness in both piezoelectric and magnetostrictive phases. Analysis of this model on L-T and L-L modes of sandwiched Terfenol-D/lead zirconate titanate/TerfenolD composites can well reproduce the observed dc magnetic field (H_dc) dependent magnetoelectric coefficients, which reach their maximum with the H_dc all at about 500 Oe. The model also suggests that stress attenuation along the layer thickness in practical composites should be taken into account. Furthermore, the model also indicates that a high volume fraction of magnetostrictive phase is required to get giant magnetoelectric coupling, coinciding with existing models.