Modeling a Fe-Ga energy harvester fitted with magnetic closure using 3D magneto-mechanical finite element model

Abstract This paper presents the implementation of magneto-mechanical constitutive law utilizing thermodynamic approach in a 3D finite element solver using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The analytical expression for the magnetic field strength and stress is derived from the constitutive model utilizing magnetic flux density and mechanical strain as state variables. The constitutive model is successfully implemented in commercially available software COMSOL. This implementation allows 3D analysis of an energy harvester device efficiently and accurately. A prototype concept device is developed to validate the model and its implementation. The device is tested under uniaxial compressive loading by varying the preload, dynamic load and magnetic bias. The model is validated by comparing the simulated and experimental results. The comparison shows that the model can reasonably predict the optimal value of the preload and magnetic bias yielding maximum power and is able to follow the measurement trends. This model can be used as a suitable tool to analyze the behavior of the concept energy harvesters and determine the optimal design parameters.