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Abstract
Efficient transducers rely on the incorporation of high quality magnetostrictive or piezoelectric materials. However their behaviours, if they are to be quantified, have to be represented by specific measurable parameters. Preferably these should be identified with particular physical properties, for instance defect density, such that device performance and lifetimes can be gauged. To this end, different approaches to modelling material or device response are briefly reviewed and their benefits and limitations discussed.
As part of a characterisation process the method of plane wave modelling (PWM) is used to predict the resonant response of a transducer element and through a comparison of the predicted and observed behaviour, values for six characterisation parameters are obtained. These data are then used to determine a reliable value for the magnetomechanical coupling coefficient that is representative of material quality regardless of the sample size and geometry or frequency of operation.