Ultra 12
Ultra 12
Article
The Effect of Changes in Magnetic Field and Frequency on the
Vibration of a Thin Magnetostrictive Patch as a Tool for
Generating Guided Ultrasonic Waves
Akram Zitoun 1 , Steven Dixon 2,3, *, Mihalis Kazilas 1                       and David Hutchins 2
                                          1   Brunel Composites Centre, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London,
                                              London UB8 3PH, UK; akram.zitoun@brunel.ac.uk (A.Z.); mihalis.kazilas@brunel.ac.uk (M.K.)
                                          2   School of Engineering, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK; D.A.Hutchins@warwick.ac.uk
                                          3   Department of Physics, The University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
                                          *   Correspondence: s.m.dixon@warwick.ac.uk
                                          Abstract: A set of experiments was designed and conducted to investigate the vibrational ultrasonic
                                          response of a thin magnetostrictive patch bonded to a glass plate, with changes in static and dynamic
                                          magnetic fields applied to the patch. Such arrangements are often used as a means of generating
                                          guided waves in pipes or plates, by attaching a patch to a sample’s surface. The effect of varying
                                          the applied static and dynamic magnetic field’s amplitudes and directions and the frequency of the
                                          dynamic magnetic field was studied. It was demonstrated that the vibration of the magnetostrictive
                                          patch could be controlled and enhanced by optimizing the magnetic fields. It was also shown that for
                                          low-amplitude dynamic magnetic fields, Lorentz forces generated within the patch and the resonant
                                          frequency of the patch could also contribute to the enhancement of the vibration of the patch for
                                          low-amplitude fields. For high-amplitude dynamic magnetic fields, the magnetostriction effect
                                can be the main transduction mechanism, which can be optimized for non-destructive testing and
         
                                          inspection purposes.
Citation: Zitoun, A.; Dixon, S.;
Kazilas, M.; Hutchins, D. The Effect
                                          Keywords: magnetostriction; magnetic field; magnetic domains; vibration
of Changes in Magnetic Field and
Frequency on the Vibration of a Thin
Magnetostrictive Patch as a Tool for
Generating Guided Ultrasonic Waves.
Sensors 2022, 22, 766. https://           1. Introduction
doi.org/10.3390/s22030766                      Magnetostriction is a physical phenomenon that occurs in almost all ferromagnetic
Academic Editor: Seung-bok Choi
                                          materials. It was first reported by James Joule in 1842 [1], and thereafter was investigated
                                          by other authors [2,3]. The term magnetostriction refers essentially to the coupling between
Received: 6 December 2021                 the applied magnetic field and the strain or stress generated due to such a field. The direct
Accepted: 17 January 2022                 effect (also called the Joule effect) occurs when the dimension of the sample changes due to
Published: 20 January 2022
                                          the application of an external magnetic field. The inverse effect (the Villari effect) occurs
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral      when the magnetization of the ferromagnetic sample changes due to strain [4–6]. Other
with regard to jurisdictional claims in   coupling concepts have also been investigated, including the Wiedemann effect [7], the
published maps and institutional affil-   Matteucci effect [8] and the magnetoimpedance stress dependent effect [9]. Magnetostric-
iations.                                  tion is commonly observed when an external magnetic field is applied to a ferromagnetic
                                          material [10].
                                               The magnetostrictive coefficient is usually written as λ and is defined as the ratio of
                                          the fractional change in length δl over the initial length l0 , as shown in Equation (1):
Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.
Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.                                                                δl
                                                                                            λ=                                                     (1)
This article is an open access article                                                            l0
distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons             Atomic magnetic dipoles are associated with atoms located at specific locations within
Attribution (CC BY) license (https://     the crystal lattice of the ferromagnetic sample. These magnetic dipole moments tend to
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/          align in the same direction within a magnetic domain spontaneously, as this situation is
4.0/).                                    energetically favorable [11]. In the absence of an external magnetic field, the magnetic
                        tween     the external applied magnetic field and the resultant strain
                          cosines relative to the field direction overlapping with the axis where the magnetization
                          is saturated and the direction overlapping the axis following which the magnetostriction
                        taken    into consideration
                          is measured   [16,17]. As can be seen      when       designing
                                                                        from Equation      (2), therea magnetostriction-based
                                                                                                         is a nonlinear relationship
70
                                                    60
                           (ppm)
50
                                                    40
                           Magnetostriction ratio
30
20
10
                                                     0
                                                    -1500    -1000    -500                0          500                   1000
                           Figure 1. Magnetostriction curve for an iron–cobalt alloy obtained through modeling in Comsol.
                        Figure 1. Magnetostriction curve for an iron–cobalt alloy obtained through
                               The magnetostriction effect observed and the behavior of the material when a field
                          is applied differs from one material to another [18–21]. As shown in Figure 1, the mag-
                               The magnetostriction
                          netostriction                          effect
                                        curve is symmetric in shape       observed
                                                                       [22,23]           and the
                                                                               and is obtained       behavior
                                                                                                by slowly           of the m
                                                                                                           varying an
                        applied     differs from one material to another [18–21]. As shown in F
                          externally applied magnetic field to a ferromagnetic specimen and capturing the change in
                          dimensions. The X-axis can be represented by the magnetic flux density B, magnetic field
                        striction
                          strength Hcurve      is symmetric
                                      or magnetization  M.          in shape [22,23] and is obtained by slo
                        nally   applied magnetic field to a ferromagnetic specimen and captu
                               The relationship linking the magnetic properties and the stress-related response of the
                          magnetostrictive material, as reported in [23–27], can be written as follows:
                        mensions. The X-axis can be represented        by the magnetic flux den
                                                   ε = s( H ) σ + dH
                        strength H or magnetization M.
                                                                                         (3)
                        where ε, σ and B are strain, stress and magnetic field density matrices, respectively, and s(H) ,
                        c and d are the elastic compliance at a specific value of H, the stiffness and the piezomagnetic
                        matrices, respectively. dT is the transpose matrix of d, d−1 is the inverse matrix of d and µ(σ)
                        is the permeability of the material measured at a specific value of the stress σ. The variables
                        s(H) , d and µσ are nonlinear, as they depend on the stress and the magnetic field. These
                        equations can be used to design magnetostrictive thin films as either sensing or actuating
                        elements. Equation (3) establishes the magnetostrictive element as an actuation system via
                        the Joule effect, whereas Equation (5) establishes the magnetostrictive material as a sensing
                        element via the Villari effect.
                               The magnetostriction phenomenon is widely used for different applications, such
                        as the active element in ultrasonic transducers used to generate elastic waves for nonde-
                        structive testing and inspection [28–31], microelectromechanical systems or MEMS [29],
                        positioning sensors [32], level-gauging sensors [33] and accurate actuation mechanisms [34].
                               Despite the fact that magnetostriction is a well-known physical property of ferromag-
                        netic materials and that it has numerous applications within industry, some aspects of
                        magnetostrictive behavior do not seem to have been reported fully, such as the effect of
                        the variation of the excitation frequency and the direction and amplitude of the externally
                        applied magnetic fields. The dynamic magnetic field driving frequency has been considered
                        critical in designing the magnetostrictive patch [35], as ultrasonic guided wave application
                        often requires the generation of a specific frequency of wave with a specific displacement
                        of wave at the sample surface. Numerical modeling has established that different guided
                        wave modes can be optimally selected and generated by modifying the coil geometry that
                        generates the dynamic magnetic field and by optimizing the permanent or static magnetic
                        field that magnetically biases the patch [36].
                               This experimental paper helps to explain and demonstrate the response of a thin patch
                        due to magnetostriction from different orientations and relative amplitudes and excitation
                        frequencies of dynamic and static magnetic fields. The experimental sample used here is a
                        patch bonded to a large glass plate to generate ultrasonic guided waves in the plate [29],
                        but the general findings of the forces generated at the patch can be applied to other types
                        of guided waves where a patch may be applied to a pipe or a bar, for example.
                        2. Experimental Work
                        2.1. Electromagnet and RF Coil Design Generating the Different Magnetic Fields
                               An electromagnet was used to provide a bias magnetic field for the magnetostrictive
                        patch, that was effectively a pseudostatic field compared to the dynamic magnetic field
                        obtained from a different coil. The electromagnet used in these experiments contained
                        an E-shaped ferrite core with dimensions 65 mm (length) × 32.8 mm (height) × 27.4 mm
                        (width), as shown in Figure 2a,b. This shape enabled two directions of static magnetic field
                        (Bs ) to be applied to the thin magnetostrictive patch that was bonded to the sample being
                        tested. Placing the patch in the region under the central pole of the electromagnet allowed
                        the static magnetic field to be applied perpendicularly to the surface, whilst an in-plane
                        field would be generated within the pole gaps.
                               A COMSOL finite element model was developed to investigate the magnitude of
                        the magnetic flux density generated by the electromagnet. The results are presented in
                        Figure 2c for the area within the central pole region (where the field was predominantly
                        perpendicular to the face of the electromagnet) and in Figure 2d for the pole gap region
                        (where it was mainly parallel).
                               Two hundred turns of wire were used for the electromagnet coil so as to generate a
                        magnetic flux density between the poles of up to 1 T. Modeling indicated that a current
                        of 25 amps would be needed in the presence of a magnetostrictive patch, which altered
                        the field from the free space value. The same current would produce a magnetic flux
                        density of approximately 0.5 T if the patch was not present. This was because the patch
                        had a high value of magnetic permeability, which would concentrate magnetic field lines
                        and thus increase the flux density. The source of the dynamic magnetic field (Bd ) was a
Sensors 2022, 22, 766                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   4 of 15
                                   racetrack coil of 10 turns and a 0.5 mm spacing between turns, on a printed circuit board
                                   (PCB), and is shown in Figure 3a. The COMSOL model results shown in Figure 3b provide
                                   an understanding of the characteristics of the magnetic field generated by the rf coil and
                                   helped in the transducer design to optimize field generation in the required direction. The
                                   magnetostrictive patch had to be accommodated under this coil so that Bd was always
                                   applied in the direction parallel to the surface of the patch. The magnetostrictive patch
                                   used in the experiments was fabricated from a VACOFLUX 48 iron–cobalt alloy supplied
                                   by ® VACUUMSCHMELZE GmbH & Co., Hanau, Germany, with the dimensions and
                                   properties given in Table 1. These patches exhibit isotropic behavior when different static
Sensors 2022, 22, x FOR PEER REVIEW
                                   and dynamic fields are applied [29], as demonstrated by placing the patch under a coil  and
                                                                                                                        4 of 15
                                   permanent and then rotate the system by 90◦ while monitoring the vibration behavior. It
                                   was shown that rotation had minimal effect on the vibration of the specimen.
                                                                                          65 mm
                                        32.8 mm
                                                                                           Central                      Pole
                                                                                           pole                         gap
                                                                                                (a)                                                                                                             (b)
                                                 Magnetic flux density across the EM central pole (Patch absent)                                                    0.5
                                       0.4
0.4
                                                                                                                                                                          0
          Magnetic flux density (T)
0.1
-0.1
0 -0.2
-0.3
                                      -0.1
                                                                                     electromagnet                                                                 -0.4
                                      -0.2
                                                                                     central pole                                                                  -0.5
                                                                                                                                                                              0   50   100        150         200        250    300   350   400   450
                                                 0              10              20              30                 40     50   60
                                                                                                                                                                                       Distance across the electromagnet (mm)
                                                                            Distance across the electrmagnet
                                                                                                (c)                                                                                                             (d)
                                                                                                 Figure
                                                                                                  Figure2.2.(a)
                                                                                                             (a)The
                                                                                                                 Theferrite
                                                                                                                     ferrite core used for
                                                                                                                             core used for the
                                                                                                                                            theelectromagnet;
                                                                                                                                                electromagnet;(b)
                                                                                                                                                               (b)photograph
                                                                                                                                                                   photographofof
                                                                                                                                                                                thethe assembled
                                                                                                                                                                                     assembled    electro-
                                                                                                                                                                                               electromag-
                                                                                                 magnet. Results of Comsol modeling for the magnetic flux density generated by the electromagnet
                                                                                                  net. Results of Comsol modeling for the magnetic flux density generated by the electromagnet are
                                                                                                 are shown across (c) the central pole region and (d) in the two pole gaps.
                                                                                                  shown across (c) the central pole region and (d) in the two pole gaps.
                                                                                                  TableA1.COMSOL     finite
                                                                                                           Patch design     element model was developed to investigate the magnitude of the
                                                                                                                         parameters.
                                                                                                 magnetic flux density generated by the electromagnet. The results are presented in Figure
                                                                                                                    Patch Material                               Iron–Cobalt Alloy
                                                                                                 2c for the area within the central pole region (where the field was predominantly perpen-
                                                                                                 dicular to the face ofShape
                                                                                                                          the electromagnet) and in Figure 2d for thesquare
                                                                                                                                                                         pole gap region (where
                                                                                                 it was mainly parallel).
                                                                                                                      Dimensions                             20 mm × 20 mm × 0.1 mm
                                                                                                                  Young’s Modulus                                      200 GPa
                                                                                                       Two hundred turns of wire were used for the electromagnet coil so as to generate a
                                                                                                                     Poisson Ratio                                       0.29
                                                                                                 magnetic flux density     between the poles of up to 1 T. Modeling8.12
                                                                                                                        Density                                       indicated
                                                                                                                                                                          g/cm3 that a current of
                                                                                                 25 amps would     be  needed   in  the
                                                                                                                 Electrical Resistivity presence of a magnetostrictive0.42 µΩmwhich altered the
                                                                                                                                                                        patch,
                                                                                                 field from the freePermeability
                                                                                                                       space value. The same current would produce       a magnetic
                                                                                                                                                                    18,000 N A−2      flux density
                                                                                                 of approximately    0.5Magnetostriction
                                                                                                             Saturation  T if the patch was not present. This was because   the patch had a high
                                                                                                                                                                       70 ppm
                                                                                                 value of magnetic     permeability,
                                                                                                              Saturation  Magnetisation which would concentrate magnetic     field lines and thus
                                                                                                                                                                        2.35 T
                                                                                                 increase the flux density. The source of the dynamic magnetic field (Bd) was a racetrack
                                                                                                 coil of 10 turns and a 0.5 mm spacing between turns, on a printed circuit board (PCB), and
                                                                                                 is shown in Figure 3a. The COMSOL model results shown in Figure 3b provide an under-
                                                                                                 standing of the characteristics of the magnetic field generated by the rf coil and helped in
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        2022,22,  FOR PEER REVIEW                                                                                                                     5 5ofof15
                                                                                                                                                              15
                    Relative       posi-
                  tion of the patch
                                                                            Distance (mm)
                    Y
Distance (mm)
                                      (a)                                                         (b)
                               Figure
                                Figure3.3.(a)
                                           (a)The
                                              Thedimensions
                                                  dimensionsof
                                                             ofthe
                                                                thecoil
                                                                    coilused
                                                                        usedto
                                                                             togenerate
                                                                               generatethe
                                                                                        thedynamic
                                                                                            dynamicmagnetic
                                                                                                     magneticfield.
                                                                                                                field.(b)
                                                                                                                       (b)COMSOL
                                                                                                                          COMSOL
                               model results for the dynamic magnetic field (Bd) and the relative position of the magnetostrictive
                                model results for the dynamic magnetic field (Bd ) and the relative position of the magnetostric-
                               patch.
                                tive patch.
                               Table 1. Patch design
                               2.2. Experimental     parameters.
                                                  Apparatus
                                      The experiments Patchwere     conducted to investigate the change
                                                               Material                                            in vibrational
                                                                                                              Iron–Cobalt       Alloy properties of
                                the magnetostrictive patch  Shape  in the  three  orthogonal      (X, Y, Z) directions     for
                                                                                                                      square    variations   in both
                                the static magneticDimensions
                                                          field from the electromagnet (Bs ) and20the        mm RF×coil
                                                                                                                      20 mm(resulting
                                                                                                                                × 0.1 mmin changes
                                in the dynamicYoung’sfield Bd ).Modulus                                              200 GPa
                                      A schematic diagram of the apparatus is shown in Figure 4a. The custom-designed
                                                        Poisson Ratio                                                   0.29
                                Innerspec pulsing unit contained two subsystems, providing different 3outputs: an RF
                                                           Density                                                  8.12 g/cm
                                current pulsing unit connected to the RF PCB coil, which provided a nominal 5-cycle tone-
                                                  Electrical Resistivity                                            0.42 µΩm
                                burst pulse over an operating frequency range from 100 to 250 kHz, and an electromagnet
                                                        Permeability
                                power unit, as shown in Figure 4a. The electromagnet used to provide             18,000     N Athe
                                                                                                                                 −2
                                                                                                                                     pseudostatic
                                            Saturation      Magnetostriction                                          70
                                magnetic field (Figure 4a) was in the form of the E-shaped ferrite core, as shown earlier ppm
                                in Figure 2a. Saturation
                                                 It offeredMagnetisation
                                                               the capability of generating both an out-of-plane       2.35 T quasi-static field
                                under the central pole region, and an in-plane field between the central and side poles.
                               2.2.
                                TheExperimental
                                     measurements     Apparatus
                                                           indicated that the generated quasi-static magnetic field ranged from
                                0 to The
                                     0.5 Texperiments
                                             under the central        pole (out-of-plane),
                                                              were conducted       to investigate andthefrom   0 to in
                                                                                                          change      1.1vibrational
                                                                                                                           T betweenproperties
                                                                                                                                          the poles
                                (in-plane),   i.e., close   to that  expected   from    the  COMSOL       model.     The
                               of the magnetostrictive patch in the three orthogonal (X, Y, Z) directions for variations   racetrack    coil shown in
                               both the static magnetic field from the electromagnet (Bs) and the RF coil (resultingtwo
                                earlier in Figure     3  was   connecting    to a high-power       current  pulse    generator,     delivering     in
                                levels ofin
                               changes     power      at 450 Wfield
                                             the dynamic          andB1.8
                                                                        d). kW to generate the higher frequency dynamic field that
                                generated    the ultrasonic
                                     A schematic        diagram  waves.
                                                                   of theTypical    outputs
                                                                            apparatus          from these
                                                                                          is shown           two pulsing
                                                                                                       in Figure    4a. Thesystems       are shown
                                                                                                                               custom-designed
                                in Figure  4b,   and    were   those  provided     by  the  control   system    of
                               Innerspec pulsing unit contained two subsystems, providing different outputs: an RF  the  Innerspec     unit,  noting
                                                                                                                                                cur-
                                that the real   current    signals   may   have   been   different   to this.  Note
                               rent pulsing unit connected to the RF PCB coil, which provided a nominal 5-cycle tone- that  the  frequency     of the
                                tone-burst
                               burst  pulse input
                                              over an  into  the rf coil
                                                          operating      could be range
                                                                       frequency     adjustedfromto 100
                                                                                                    examine
                                                                                                         to 250the
                                                                                                                 kHz,frequency
                                                                                                                         and an response       of the
                                                                                                                                   electromagnet
                                patch  under     various    static field  conditions.
                               power unit, as shown in Figure 4a. The electromagnet used to provide the pseudostatic
                               magnetic field (Figure 4a) was in the form of the E-shaped ferrite core, as shown earlier in
                               Figure 2a. It offered the capability of generating both an out-of-plane quasi-static field
                               under the central pole region, and an in-plane field between the central and side poles.
                               The measurements indicated that the generated quasi-static magnetic field ranged from 0
                               to 0.5 T under the central pole (out-of-plane), and from 0 to 1.1 T between the poles (in-
                               plane), i.e., close to that expected from the COMSOL model. The racetrack coil shown
                               earlier in Figure 3 was connecting to a high-power current pulse generator, delivering two
                               levels of power at 450 W and 1.8 kW to generate the higher frequency dynamic field that
                        generated the ultrasonic waves. Typical outputs from these two pulsing systems are
                        shown in Figure 4b, and were those provided by the control system of the Innerspec unit,
                        noting that the real current signals may have been different to this. Note that the frequency
Sensors 2022, 22, 766
                        of the tone-burst input into the rf coil could be adjusted to examine the frequency response
                                                                                                                  6 of 15
                                                                                                  (a)
                                                                   6
                                                                   3
                                       Current amplitude (Amps)
                                                                   2
                                                                                           Electromagnet input
                                                                                           Electromagnet  input current
                                                                                                                current waveform
                                                                                                                        waveform
                                                                                           RF coil
                                                                                           Coil    input
                                                                                                input     current
                                                                                                      current     waveform
                                                                                                              waveform
                                                                  -1
                                                                       0   0.5   1   1.5   2           2.5            3            3.5   4   4.5         5
                                                                                                 Time (s)                                               -5
                                                                                                                                                   10
                                                                                                  (b)
                        Figure
                          Figure4. (a)
                                    4. Schematic  diagram
                                       (a) Schematic        of theofapparatus.
                                                       diagram                   (b) The(b)
                                                                      the apparatus.     nominal   output from
                                                                                             The nominal         the from
                                                                                                             output  dual electromag-
                                                                                                                           the dual elec-
                        net/rf
                          tromagnet/rf coil driving system, showing both the electromagnet drive current andtone-burst
                               coil driving  system,  showing    both  the electromagnet    drive current   and the 5-cycle   the 5-cycle
                        used  to exciteused
                          tone-burst     the rf
                                             to pancake
                                                excite thecoil. Note that
                                                           rf pancake      theNote
                                                                        coil.   rf coil
                                                                                    thatwas
                                                                                         theexcited   onceexcited
                                                                                             rf coil was    the current to the
                                                                                                                  once the     electro-
                                                                                                                           current to the
                        magnet had stabilized.
                          electromagnet had stabilized.
                              The  dynamic
                                 The  dynamicdisplacement
                                                displacementof of
                                                               thethe
                                                                   magnetostrictive
                                                                      magnetostrictive  patch
                                                                                           patchwas
                                                                                                  wasmeasured
                                                                                                        measured using   a scan-
                                                                                                                     using  a scan-
                        ning   vibrometer   Polytec  CLV   3000   3D  (Polytec   GmbH,     Waldbronn,
                           ning vibrometer Polytec CLV 3000 3D (Polytec GmbH, Waldbronn, Germany), which   Germany),      which
                                                                                                                             could
                        could   be used
                           be used       to detect
                                     to detect bothboth in-plane
                                                    in-plane  andand   out-of-plane
                                                                   out-of-plane        motion.
                                                                                  motion.     TheThe  laser
                                                                                                  laser     system
                                                                                                        system        included
                                                                                                                  included   three
                        three  separate
                           separate      Doppler
                                      Doppler      vibrometer
                                                vibrometer      heads,
                                                            heads,     detecting
                                                                    detecting      ultrasonic
                                                                                ultrasonic      motion
                                                                                              motion   inin the
                                                                                                          the    three
                                                                                                               three    orthog-
                                                                                                                      orthogonal
                        onal  axes
                           axes  (X,(X, Y and
                                     Y and  Z, Z,
                                               asas shown
                                                  shown   inin Figure5)5)from
                                                             Figure        fromthe
                                                                                thelaser
                                                                                     laserlight
                                                                                            lightreflected
                                                                                                  reflectedfrom
                                                                                                             fromthethesurface
                                                                                                                        surface of
                        of the
                            the patch.
                                patch.
 Sensors2022,
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         2022,22,   FOR PEER REVIEW                                                                                                     7 7ofof15
                                                                                                                                                15
(a)
                                                                          (b)
                                 Figure
                                  Figure5.5.(a)(a)
                                                Relative  positions
                                                   Relative         of the
                                                             positions      magnetostrictive
                                                                        of the                patch,
                                                                               magnetostrictive      the coil
                                                                                                  patch,  the and
                                                                                                              coil the
                                                                                                                    andelectromagnet   to gen-to
                                                                                                                         the electromagnet
                                 erate the first set of experiments  where   the static magnetic field was  out-of-plane   while the
                                  generate the first set of experiments where the static magnetic field was out-of-plane while the   dynamic
                                 magnetic
                                  dynamic field    was in
                                             magnetic       plane.
                                                         field was(b) Relative
                                                                   in plane.  (b)positions of the magnetostrictive
                                                                                  Relative positions                  patch, thepatch,
                                                                                                      of the magnetostrictive    coil and
                                                                                                                                        the the
                                                                                                                                             coil
                                 electromagnet to generate the second set of experiments where both the static magnetic field and
                                  and the electromagnet to generate the second set of experiments where both the static magnetic field
                                 the dynamic magnetic field were in-plane.
                                  and the dynamic magnetic field were in-plane.
                                      Note
                                       Notethat
                                              thatthe
                                                   theoutput
                                                        outputofofthethevibrometer
                                                                          vibrometerinineach
                                                                                          eachcase
                                                                                               casewas
                                                                                                     wasaawaveform
                                                                                                            waveformofofthe  theultrasonic
                                                                                                                                 ultrasonic
                                 particle
                                  particle velocity at each point of measurement. The 5-cycle tone-burst shownininFigure
                                          velocity  at  each point    of measurement.     The 5-cycle  tone-burst   shown         Figure4b  4b
                                 was  delayed    via  the triggering     gate system   to coincide  with  the   time  at
                                  was delayed via the triggering gate system to coincide with the time at which the fieldwhich    the field
                                                                                                                                        from
                                 from  the electromagnet
                                  the electromagnet           reached
                                                        reached           a constant
                                                                   a constant          and maximum
                                                                               and maximum              value,
                                                                                                 value, as       as indicated
                                                                                                           indicated    in Figurein 4b.
                                                                                                                                    Figure
                                                                                                                                         This
                                 4b. This ensured    that the  field  from  the  electromagnet   could  be considered     to be
                                  ensured that the field from the electromagnet could be considered to be static, i.e., constantstatic,  i.e.,
                                 constant
                                  for each for each measurement.
                                            measurement.      The patch  The  patch
                                                                            was      wasunder
                                                                                 placed   placedthe
                                                                                                  under  thesection
                                                                                                    linear    linear of
                                                                                                                     section   of the race-
                                                                                                                        the racetrack     coil,
                                 track coil, as shown    earlier
                                  as shown earlier in Figure 3.   in  Figure  3.
Sensors 2022, 22, 766                                                                                             8 of 15
                        3. Results
                        3.1. Static Magnetic Field (Bs ) in the Out-of-Plane Direction
                              The experiment arrangement described above allowed the response of the magne-
                        tostrictive patch, as measured by the vibrometer as a function of frequency (f) and magnetic
                        field direction. The first set of tests had the static field Bs in the out-of-plane (Z) direction
                        while the dynamic field Bd was in-plane and predominantly in the X direction, as shown in
                        Figure 5. The amplitude of the static field Bs and the dynamic coil excitation frequency f
                        were then changed, and the ultrasonic vibration signal of the patch surface was recorded for
                        the three different directions of motion (X, Y and Z) using the vibrometer. The amplitude
                        of the dynamic field Bd was kept constant during these experiments. The frequency f of
                        the current through the rf coil was varied from 100 to 240 kHz in 10 kHz steps, while the
                        amplitude of Bs was varied from 0.1 to 0.5 T, with an increasing step of 0.05 T.
                              The results of these experiments are presented in Figure 6a–c, which shows changes in
                        the vibrational (particle velocity) amplitudes in the three orthogonal directions (X, Y, Z),
                        respectively, as detected by the laser vibrometer. The resultant magnitude of the velocity,
                        shown in Figure 6d, was calculated using the equation below:
                                                                          q
                                                   Magnitude MagV =           Vx 2 + Vy 2 + Vz 2 ,                   (6)
                        where Vx , Vy and Vz are the particle velocity amplitudes in the directions X, Y and Z,
                        respectively. Consider first the X direction (Figure 6a), where it can be seen that there
                        was an abrupt reduction in vibration amplitude at a frequency of about 180 kHz. This
                        change occurred at a lower frequency for smaller values of Bs . Similar trends were seen
                        in the Z direction (Figure 6c), but now a maximum in vibration amplitude was observed
                        at Bs values above 0.4 T in the frequency range f = 140–180 kHz. In the Y direction
                        (Figure 6b), a reasonably high amplitude existed for f = 140–200 kHz, but again only at
                        higher Bs values. The overall magnitude of the vibration demonstrated that the most
                        effective frequencies to use were those in the f = 140–200 kHz range, although relatively
                        high vibrational levels could be obtained even for low frequencies with static magnetic field
                        values below Bs = 0.2 T. Hence, an appropriate selection of the correct frequency and static
                        field combination was required in order to generate a high amplitude ultrasonic signal,
                        and this choice would vary depending on the direction of interest (e.g., in attempting to
                        generate a particular ultrasonic wave mode in a sample to which the magnetostrictive
                        material may be attached).
                              This configuration led to the generation of Lorentz forces in the patch, mainly in the X
                        direction. In addition, magnetostrictive forces were primarily expected to be generated in
                        the X direction. From the figures below, it can be seen that both forces were constructively
                        interfering. In fact, in Figure 6a, the amplitude of velocity was higher than the velocity
                        amplitude recorded in the Y and Z directions. The amplitude of velocity in the X direction
                        was double that compared to the velocity in the Y direction, and it was much higher
                        than the amplitude of particle velocity vibrating in the Z direction. It can also be noticed
                        that the vibrations were greater in the same direction as the dynamic magnetic field (Bd ).
                        Preliminary modeling of the vibrating natural frequencies of the patch geometry identified
                        that a vibrational mode of the patch geometry was oscillating at 100 kHz, which is in
                        agreement with the results below. As a matter of fact, the variation of the frequency and
                        the static magnetic field amplitude had minimal effect of the amplitude of the particle
                        velocity. This was due to the fact that the patch was vibrating within the range of its natural
                        frequency, which contributed to the overall vibration of the patch, compared to the Lorentz
                        forces and the magnetostrictive forces. The mechanism had an effect on the generation of
                        the guided waves, as their excitability was highly dependent on the driving frequency. In
                        this case, the vibrations generating the guided waves were being induced mainly by the
                        natural frequencies of the patch, rather than the effect of magnetostriction or Lorentz forces.
                                 to use were those in the f = 140–200 kHz range, although relatively high vibrational levels
                                 could be obtained even for low frequencies with static magnetic field values below Bs =
                                 0.2 T. Hence, an appropriate selection of the correct frequency and static field combination
                                 was required in order to generate a high amplitude ultrasonic signal, and this choice
                                 would vary depending on the direction of interest (e.g., in attempting to generate a par-
Sensors 2022, 22, 766            ticular ultrasonic wave mode in a sample to which the magnetostrictive material may   9 of 15
                                                                                                                            be
                                 attached).
(a) (b)
                                (c)                                                                            (d)
                                 Figure6.6.Particle
                                Figure     Particlevelocity
                                                    velocityamplitude
                                                            amplitudemapping
                                                                       mappingwhile
                                                                                  whilevarying
                                                                                        varyingthethestatic
                                                                                                      staticmagnetic
                                                                                                            magneticfield
                                                                                                                     fieldamplitude
                                                                                                                           amplitudeand
                                                                                                                                      and
                                 the frequency of the coil excitation in (a) the X direction, (b) the Y direction and (c) the Z direction.
                                the frequency of the coil excitation in (a) the X direction, (b) the Y direction and (c) the Z direction.
                                 (d) The resultant magnitude was calculated using Equation (6).
                                (d) The resultant magnitude was calculated using Equation (6).
                                3.2. BThis
                                       s and configuration       led toto
                                                Bd In-Plane, Parallel     thethegeneration     of Lorentz
                                                                                  Surface of the              forces inPatch
                                                                                                   Magnetostrcitve         the patch,    mainly intothe
                                                                                                                                 and Orthogonal
                                Each  Other In addition, magnetostrictive forces were primarily expected to be generated
                                 X direction.
                                 in the
                                      In X   direction.
                                          this             From the figures
                                                 set of experiments,       the Bdbelow,
                                                                                     and Bsitfields
                                                                                                can be  seeninthat
                                                                                                      were        the both
                                                                                                                       X and  forces    were construc-
                                                                                                                                Y direction,     respec-
                                 tively  interfering.     In  fact, in  Figure    6a,  the  amplitude      of  velocity
                                tively (i.e., orthogonal to each other). Again, the resultant particle velocity amplitudes was   higher    than the ve-
                                 locityrecorded
                                were     amplitude    in recorded
                                                         the X, Y and in theZY    and Z directions.
                                                                               directions     as a functionThe amplitude
                                                                                                                 of f and Bsof      velocity
                                                                                                                                 . In           in the
                                                                                                                                        addition,    twoX
                                 direction was
                                amplitudes           double
                                                 of the  inputthat
                                                                 powercompared
                                                                           were used to the
                                                                                          to velocity
                                                                                              generatein  thethe   Y direction,
                                                                                                                dynamic      field Band
                                                                                                                                      d toit  was   much
                                                                                                                                            investigate
                                 higher
                                the  effectthan   the amplitude
                                               of varying              of particle
                                                             this parameter        forvelocity
                                                                                        a constantvibrating
                                                                                                      Bs . In in   theconfiguration,
                                                                                                                this    Z direction. Itthe   canLorentz
                                                                                                                                                  also be
                                 noticed
                                force       that the would
                                       generation       vibrations     were greater
                                                                 be expected        to beinzero.
                                                                                             the same     direction
                                                                                                   The results          as the
                                                                                                                    for the   casedynamic
                                                                                                                                    where the  magnetic
                                                                                                                                                   input
                                 field (B   ). Preliminary     modeling      of  the  vibrating    natural   frequencies
                                power used to generate the dynamic field was 450 W are shown in Figure 7. Significant
                                          d                                                                                   of  the patch    geometry
                                 identified that
                                differences      canabe vibrational
                                                          seen relativemode toof   the patch
                                                                                Figure          geometry
                                                                                          6, where            was was
                                                                                                      the field      oscillating
                                                                                                                          out of at    100 kHz,
                                                                                                                                    plane.    Now, which
                                                                                                                                                      the
                                 is in agreement
                                highest   amplitudes   within the  results
                                                              all three      below. As
                                                                          directions    (X,aYmatter
                                                                                                and Z)ofoccurred
                                                                                                           fact, theforvariation     of the frequency
                                                                                                                           lower frequencies        of up
                                 and
                                to 40 the
                                       kHz, static
                                                andmagnetic
                                                     there wasfield
                                                                  littleamplitude      had minimal
                                                                         signal at higher               effectThe
                                                                                               frequencies.      of the   amplitude
                                                                                                                      magnitude          of (Figure
                                                                                                                                      plot   the particle
                                                                                                                                                       7d)
                                reflected
                                 velocity.these      changes
                                              This was    due into the three     different
                                                                         fact that           directions,
                                                                                      the patch             in that the
                                                                                                   was vibrating           highest
                                                                                                                       within         amplitude
                                                                                                                                 the range     of itswas
                                                                                                                                                      nat-
                                achieved     for specific
                                 ural frequency,       whichcombinations
                                                                contributed    ofto
                                                                                  frequency
                                                                                     the overallandvibration
                                                                                                     applied static
                                                                                                                  of themagnetic      field amplitude.
                                                                                                                            patch, compared         to the
                                The
                                 Lorentz forces and the magnetostrictive forces. The mechanism had an effect on thefrom
                                      magnitude        was   greatest   at  frequencies      in  the 105–140      kHz    range,    as  expected       gen-
                                Figure
                                 eration7a–c.
                                            of the guided waves, as their excitability was highly dependent on the driving
                                 frequency. In this case, the vibrations generating the guided waves were being induced
                                 mainly by the natural frequencies of the patch, rather than the effect of magnetostriction
                                 or Lorentz forces.
                                 3.2. Bs and Bd In-Plane, Parallel to the Surface of the Magnetostrcitve Patch and Orthogonal to
                                 Each Other
Sensors 2022, 22, x FOR PEER REVIEW                                                                                              10 of 15
Sensors 2022, 22, 766            amplitude. The magnitude was greatest at frequencies in the 105–140 kHz range, 10
                                                                                                                 asofex-
                                                                                                                      15
(a) (b)
                               (c)                                                                  (d)
                                 Figure 7. Velocity mapping while varying the static magnetic field Bs and the frequency in the (a)
                                Figure 7. Velocity mapping while varying the static magnetic field Bs and the frequency in the (a) X,
                                 X, (b) Y and (c) Z directions, respectively. (d) The resultant magnitude of the particle velocity. The
                                (b) Y and (c) Z directions, respectively. (d) The resultant magnitude of the particle velocity. The input
                                 input power used to generate the dynamic field was 450 W throughout.
                                power used to generate the dynamic field was 450 W throughout.
                                      Results for the higher dynamic field power input of 1.8 kW are shown in Figure 8. It
                                     Results for the higher dynamic field power input of 1.8 kW are shown in Figure 8.
                                can be seen now that the distribution in amplitudes was spread over a wider range of
                                It can be seen now that the distribution in amplitudes was spread over a wider range of
                                frequencies than at the lower power level (Figure 7), with the maximum amplitudes being
                                frequencies than at the lower power level (Figure 7), with the maximum amplitudes being
                                reached over the 120–160 kHz frequency range in the case of the Y direction. However,
                                reached over the 120–160 kHz frequency range in the case of the Y direction. However, the
                                the  maximum
                                maximum          amplitudes
                                            amplitudes    in theinZthe  Z direction
                                                                    direction          werelocated
                                                                                were now      now located
                                                                                                      as beforeas before   at frequencies
                                                                                                                   at frequencies   below
                                below   120 kHz.  As both   magnetic    fields  were  located   parallel  to the  surface  of the magne-
                                120 kHz. As both magnetic fields were located parallel to the surface of the magnetostrictive
                                tostrictive
                                patch,      patch, theinvibration
                                       the vibration                 in the was
                                                         the Z direction     Z direction
                                                                                 mainly awas     mainly
                                                                                             result of theavibration
                                                                                                              result of in
                                                                                                                         theboth
                                                                                                                             vibration
                                                                                                                                 X and inY
                                both X and
                                directions,   Y to
                                            due  directions,
                                                   a Poissondue     to a Poisson
                                                               ratio-type            ratio-type
                                                                            effect. Note         effect.
                                                                                          also that       Note also
                                                                                                     the velocity       that therecorded
                                                                                                                    amplitude     velocity
                                amplitude
                                in          recorded
                                   the X direction  hadindoubled
                                                           the X direction
                                                                    from 0.02hadtodoubled
                                                                                    0.04 m/s, from  0.02
                                                                                                while  thetovelocity
                                                                                                             0.04 m/s,captured
                                                                                                                         while theinveloc-
                                                                                                                                     the Y
                                ity captured  in the Y  direction   increased   by
                                direction increased by 50% (from 0.02 to 0.03 m/s). 50%   (from  0.02  to  0.03 m/s).
                                      From Figure 7, it can still be seen that the vibration velocity amplitude remained
                                 relatively high at around 100 kHz, indicating that by adopting this design, the vibration
                                 due to the natural frequency was still significant and could influence the effects of the
                                 Lorentz forces and the magnetostrictive forces. It is worth mentioning that the vibrations
                                 due to the natural frequencies of the patch could be selected, as in an NDT application
                                 the patch will be glued, which leads to a variation of the overall natural frequency of
                                 the system.
Sensors 2022, 22, x FOR PEER REVIEW                                                                                                      11 of 15
Sensors 2022, 22, 766                                                                                                                     11 of 15
(a) (b)
                                (c)                                                                       (d)
                                 Figure 8. Velocity mapping while varying the static magnetic field Bs and the frequency in the (a)
                                 Figure 8. Velocity mapping while varying the static magnetic field Bs and the frequency in the (a) X,
                                 X, (b) Y and (c) Z directions, respectively. (d) A map of the resultant magnitude of the particle ve-
                                 (b) Y and (c) Z directions, respectively. (d) A map of the resultant magnitude of the particle velocity.
                                 locity. The input power used to generate the dynamic field was 1.8 kW throughout.
                                 The input power used to generate the dynamic field was 1.8 kW throughout.
                                       From Figure 7, it can still be seen that the vibration velocity amplitude remained rel-
                                       Another important observation can be obtained by comparing the results from the
                                 atively high at around 100 kHz, indicating that by adopting this design, the vibration due
                                 situation where the external static field was applied either out-of-plane (Figure 6) or
                                 to the natural
                                 parallel          frequency
                                           to the surface       was
                                                           of the    still significant patch
                                                                    magnetostrictive      and could    influence
                                                                                                 (Figures         theIn
                                                                                                            7 and 8).  effects   of the
                                                                                                                          fact, the      Lorentz
                                                                                                                                     magnitude
                                 of the vibration had increased by almost an order of magnitude (from 2.5 × 10due
                                 forces  and   the  magnetostrictive      forces.   It is worth   mentioning     that  the  vibrations          to
                                                                                                                                            −4 to
                                 the  natural   frequencies   of  the patch    could    be selected,  as  in an NDT
                                 2.2 × 10−3 m/s), and the working region had increased to provide more combinations    application     the  patch
                                 will
                                 of thebefrequency/static
                                          glued, which leads       to a variation
                                                               magnetic              of the overall
                                                                            field amplitudes,       at natural
                                                                                                       which afrequency
                                                                                                                 reasonable  of response
                                                                                                                                  the system.was
                                       Another     important    observation     can    be  obtained   by   comparing
                                 observed. Although the boundary conditions of the patch had changed between            the  results    fromboth
                                                                                                                                               the
                                 situation   where    the external   static  field was    applied   either   out-of-plane
                                 experiments, when the magnetostrictive patches were used to generate guided waves for      (Figure    6) or par-
                                 allel to the purposes,
                                 inspection    surface of the
                                                            the magnetostrictive        patch (Figures
                                                                 variation of the magnetic                 7 and 8). In
                                                                                                   field directions   andfact,  the magnitude
                                                                                                                            amplitude      could
                                 of  the vibration    had  increased    by   almost    an  order  of
                                 enhance the signal generation and increase detectability of defects. magnitude     (from   2.5   × 10−4 to 2.2 ×
                                 10−3 m/s),  and thetoworking
                                       Compared                    regionexperiments,
                                                         the previous       had increased    bytousing
                                                                                                  providehighmore  combinations
                                                                                                               power    with both of      the fre-
                                                                                                                                      magnetic
                                 quency/static
                                 fields            magneticthe
                                         placed in-plane,      field  amplitudes,
                                                                   vibration    of theatpatch
                                                                                           whichmight
                                                                                                   a reasonable    response
                                                                                                         be expected    to be was     observed.
                                                                                                                                 larger.  In fact,
                                 Although     the  boundary     conditions     of the  patch   had   changed    between
                                 the patch vibration pattern was similar to the magnetostriction curve of the ferromagneticboth    experiments,
                                 when theThe
                                 material.    magnetostrictive      patchesincreased
                                                   vibration amplitude          were used     to generate
                                                                                           when               guided
                                                                                                  a high static        wavesfield
                                                                                                                 magnetic        for amplitude
                                                                                                                                     inspection
                                 purposes,    the  variation   of the  magnetic     field  directions   and   amplitude
                                 was applied. The vibration velocity was inversely proportional to the frequency, and the  could    enhance   the
                                 signalwas
                                 patch   generation
                                              vibrating and
                                                          at increase   detectability
                                                             high amplitudes       within of defects.
                                                                                             the low-frequency range.
                                                                                                   Compared to the previous experiments, by using high power with both magnetic
                                                                                             fields placed in-plane, the vibration of the patch might be expected to be larger. In fact,
                                                                                             the patch vibration pattern was similar to the magnetostriction curve of the ferromagnetic
                                                                                             material. The vibration amplitude increased when a high static magnetic field amplitude
Sensors 2022, 22, 766                                                                        was applied. The vibration velocity was inversely proportional to the frequency, 12                  and    the
                                                                                                                                                                                                     of 15
                                                                                             patch was vibrating at high amplitudes within the low-frequency range.
                                                                                                   Another set of experiments examined the relative amplitudes of the static (Bs) and
                                                                                             dynamic   (Bdset
                                                                                                 Another    ) fields  for particular
                                                                                                                 of experiments       fixed values
                                                                                                                                    examined     the of  dynamic
                                                                                                                                                      relative       rf excitation
                                                                                                                                                                 amplitudes        frequency
                                                                                                                                                                               of the  static (B(f). Here,
                                                                                                                                                                                                 s ) and
                                                                                             the amplitudes
                                                                                          dynamic    (Bd ) fieldsoffor
                                                                                                                     vibration  in the
                                                                                                                        particular      X and
                                                                                                                                    fixed valuesY directions
                                                                                                                                                    of dynamic  were    capturedfrequency
                                                                                                                                                                   rf excitation  while varying      Bs for
                                                                                                                                                                                              (f). Here,
                                                                                          thea fixed dynamic
                                                                                               amplitudes         field amplitude
                                                                                                              of vibration   in the XBdand
                                                                                                                                        of 1.8 kW. The two
                                                                                                                                            Y directions    werefields  were orthogonal
                                                                                                                                                                   captured   while varyingto each
                                                                                                                                                                                                Bs forother
                                                                                                                                                                                                         a
                                                                                             to minimize
                                                                                          fixed   dynamic Lorentz       force generation,
                                                                                                             field amplitude                as the
                                                                                                                                 Bd of 1.8 kW.      study
                                                                                                                                                  The  two on   magnetostriction
                                                                                                                                                             fields  were orthogonal generation     was of
                                                                                                                                                                                         to each other
                                                                                          tointerest.
                                                                                              minimizeThe    resultsforce
                                                                                                         Lorentz       are shown   in Figure
                                                                                                                            generation,  as the9a–d   for on
                                                                                                                                                  study   frequencies    of 100, 120,
                                                                                                                                                              magnetostriction        200 and 220
                                                                                                                                                                                   generation    waskHz,of
                                                                                             respectively.
                                                                                          interest.  The results are shown in Figure 9a–d for frequencies of 100, 120, 200 and 220 kHz,
                                                                                          respectively.
                                0.02                                                                                                                                     0.022
                       0.016
                                                                                                                                                                         0.018
                       0.014
                                                                                                                                                                         0.016
0.012
                                                                                                                                                      Velocity (m/s)
      Velocity (m/s)
0.014
0.01
0.012
0.008
                                                                                                                                                                                        0.01
                       0.006
                                                                                                                                                                         0.008
                       0.004
0.002 0.006
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Static magnetic field amplitude (T) Static magnetic field amplitude (T)
                                                                                            (a)                                                                                                                                               (b)
                                                        -3                                                                                                                                                 -3
                                                   10                                                                                                                                                 10
                                        13                                                                                                                                                 11
                                        11
                                                                                                                                                                                               9
                                        10
                                                                                                                                                                                               8
                                         9
                                                                                                                                                                                               7
                                                                                                                                                                       Velocity (m/s)
                       Velocity (m/s)
                                                                                                                                                                                               6
                                         7
                                                                                                                                                                                               5
                                         6
                                                                                                                                                                                               4
                                         5
4 3
                                         3                                                                                                                                                     2
                                             0.2             0.3   0.4           0.5           0.6         0.7        0.8               0.9       1                                             0.2             0.3   0.4           0.5           0.6         0.7        0.8               0.9       1
Static magnetic field amplitude (T) Static Magnetic field amplitude (T)
                                                                                            (c)                                                                                                                                               (d)
                                                                                             Figure
                                                                                          Figure   9. 9. Magnetostrictive
                                                                                                      Magnetostrictive    patch
                                                                                                                        patch   vibration
                                                                                                                              vibration  in in    XX
                                                                                                                                             thethe   and
                                                                                                                                                    and   Y directions
                                                                                                                                                        Y directions asas a function
                                                                                                                                                                       a function  of of static
                                                                                                                                                                                      static    magnetic
                                                                                                                                                                                             magnetic
                                                                                             field amplitude for (a) 100, (b) 120, (c) 200 and (d) 220 kHz.
                                                                                          field amplitude for (a) 100, (b) 120, (c) 200 and (d) 220 kHz.
                                                                                               AsAscancanbebeseen
                                                                                                              seenininFigure
                                                                                                                        Figure 9, 9, the
                                                                                                                                     the amplitudes
                                                                                                                                          amplitudes in in both
                                                                                                                                                            bothdirections
                                                                                                                                                                   directionsshowed
                                                                                                                                                                                showednonlinear
                                                                                                                                                                                          nonlinear  be-
                                                                                            havior with
                                                                                         behavior    withincreasing
                                                                                                           increasingstatic
                                                                                                                         staticmagnetic
                                                                                                                                  magnetic  field amplitude,
                                                                                                                                              field amplitude, and  this
                                                                                                                                                                  and    confirmed
                                                                                                                                                                       this confirmed thethe
                                                                                                                                                                                          results  from
                                                                                                                                                                                              results
                                                                                            the the
                                                                                         from    previous   set set
                                                                                                     previous    of experiments.
                                                                                                                    of experiments.   ForFor
                                                                                                                                           relatively low
                                                                                                                                              relatively lowfrequencies,
                                                                                                                                                               frequencies,it was  observed
                                                                                                                                                                              it was  observed that
                                                                                                                                                                                                 thatthe
                                                                                            amplitude    of  the  velocity   in  the  Y  direction  saturated    when   applying
                                                                                         the amplitude of the velocity in the Y direction saturated when applying a static magnetic a static magnetic
                                                                                            field
                                                                                         field  inin the
                                                                                                   the   range
                                                                                                       range     from
                                                                                                               from  0.40.4
                                                                                                                          toto
                                                                                                                             0.60.6
                                                                                                                                  T, T, with
                                                                                                                                     with  thethe amplitude
                                                                                                                                                amplitude   ofof  the
                                                                                                                                                                the   velocity
                                                                                                                                                                    velocity     decreasing
                                                                                                                                                                              decreasing   at at higher
                                                                                                                                                                                              higher
                                                                                         values. Conversely, when high frequencies were selected to drive the dynamic magnetic
                                                                                         field applied to the patch, the velocity in both X and Y directions had similar trends, as
                                                                                         the amplitude increased when the applied static magnetic field was increased. This trend
                                                                                         was similar to the magnetostrictive curve measured by applying a static magnetic field to
                                                                                         establish the properties of the ferromagnetic material. It is also important to mention that
                                                                                         while increasing the static magnetic field, the amplitude of the velocity in the Y direction
                                                                                         surpassed the amplitude of the velocity in the X direction. The “switching” point value
Sensors 2022, 22, 766                                                                                           13 of 15
                        (circled in Figure 9 in each case) decreased as the frequency increased. In fact, the amplitude
                        in the Y direction became higher than in the X direction more quickly when increasing the
                        oscillation frequency.
                        4. Discussion
                              It was evident that the relative values of Bd and Bs had a significant effect on the
                        generation of magnetostriction within a thin magnetostrictive patch. First, the magnetic
                        field generated through the electromagnet was applied in the out-of-plane direction com-
                        pared to the magnetostrictive patch surface, while the dynamic magnetic field direction
                        was in-plane. The results showed that by modifying the frequency and the amplitude
                        of the static magnetic field, the vibration generated within the patch could be controlled
                        and enhanced. The analysis showed a complex link between rf coil frequency and the
                        static magnetic field amplitude. For the case where the frequency was around 100 kHz,
                        the variation of the applied magnetic field had a small effect on the vibration amplitude in
                        all directions. At higher frequencies, careful selection of the frequency and the static field
                        amplitude was required for this configuration, as the enhancement of the signal was not
                        achieved by simply increasing the static magnetic field amplitude. This could be seen for
                        frequencies such as 130 kHz and at frequencies above 200 kHz.
                              The second set of experiments consisted of placing both Bd and Bs in-plane, with the
                        two fields orthogonal to each other, so as to minimize the generation of Lorentz forces in the
                        patch, allowing magnetostriction effects to be studied in isolation. The power energizing
                        the driving coil was also set to two different values (450 W and 1.8 kW). In all cases, a
                        more complex interaction was observed. With a driving power of 450 W into the dynamic
                        coil, the performance of the patch was optimum only over certain frequency and static
                        magnetic field ranges. This could be due to the fact that the energy levels used to generate
                        the magnetostrictively induced vibrations were relatively low. The static magnetic field (Bs )
                        acted to align the magnetic domains in the direction of Bs . The modulation provided by Bd
                        was superimposed on this, and when the power induced was relatively low, the effect on the
                        rotation of the magnetic domains was very limited. It should be noted that the magnitude
                        of vibration in all directions was enhanced and, in some cases doubled, compared to the
                        out-of-plane configuration. This was due to the fact that thin magnetostrictive films were
                        used. Increasing the power energizing the dynamic coil to 1.8 kW showed a more consistent
                        trend. Increasing the amplitude of the dynamic field enhanced velocity amplitudes in the X
                        direction and the Y direction. It was also observed that higher velocities could be achieved
                        at higher drive frequencies, in this case at 240 kHz. In fact, by increasing the input power,
                        the energy applied to the magnetostrictive patch was increasing, which could facilitate a
                        wider operational range. For higher levels of Bd , the patch responded by generating higher
                        acoustic particle velocity amplitudes at higher frequencies.
                              In addition, by placing both magnetic fields so that the generation of the Lorentz
                        forces was minimized, a switching point was observed when varying the amplitudes of
                        the magnetic fields (Figure 9). For the low-frequency range (from 100 to 220 kHz), a higher
                        level of Bs was required so that the dominant vibrations were aligned with the Y direction.
                        The switching point between the magnitudes of vibration in the X and Y directions moved
                        to a lower frequency when the frequency was increasing. In fact, for higher frequencies,
                        the energy induced by the dynamic magnetic field was decreasing, which was leading to
                        the situation where the vibration of the magnetic domains was dominated by the static
                        magnetic field applied in the Y direction.
                        5. Conclusions
                             By using the laser vibrometer system, the vibration of a thin magnetostrictive patch
                        when subject to variable experimental parameters was analyzed and studied. Interesting
                        observations were identified by varying the static magnetic field direction and amplitude,
                        the dynamic magnetic field or the excitation frequency. It was demonstrated that by using
                        the same patch and modifying the excitation parameters, the signal generated from the
Sensors 2022, 22, 766                                                                                                                14 of 15
                                   patch through the magnetostriction phenomena could be enhanced, and the patch was able
                                   to generate higher vibration velocities and ultrasonic wave amplitudes. The amplitude of
                                   the vibration could be altered by simply modifying the direction or amplitude of Bd and Bs .
                                   In previous work, the frequency effect on magnetostriction was not well-established, as the
                                   effect was only studied by applying a static magnetic field, without considering the effect
                                   of the application of an oscillating magnetic field. It was shown that by placing the static
                                   magnetic field in the out-of-plane direction and the selection of low operating frequencies,
                                   the variation of the static magnetic field was minimal, but that the effect was significant
                                   when the same field was in-plane. By further increasing the amplitude of the dynamic field
                                   as well as the static magnetic field, the performance of the thin magnetostrictive patch could
                                   be enhanced and controlled. A more global understanding and investigation of the effect
                                   of these parameters will be of interest to the NDE research community, as such patches
                                   can be widely used to overcome multiple limitations imposed by the use of piezoelectric
                                   transducers for applications such as guided-wave inspection.
                                   Author Contributions: Conceptualization, A.Z., D.H. and S.D; methodology, A.Z.; software, A.Z.;
                                   validation, A.Z., D.H. and S.D.; formal analysis, A.Z.; investigation, A.Z.; resources, A.Z. and M.K.;
                                   original draft preparation, A.Z.; writing—review and editing, A.Z., S.D., D.H. and M.K.; supervision,
                                   D.H., S.D. and M.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
                                   Funding: This research was funded through the “NDTonAIR” Marie Skłodowska Curie Training
                                   Network in Non-Destructive Testing and Structural Health Monitoring of Aircraft structures (MSCA-
                                   ITN) under the action H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016- under Grant number 722134.
                                   Institutional Review Board Statement: Not Applicable.
                                   Informed Consent Statement: Not Applicable.
                                   Data Availability Statement: Not Applicable.
                                   Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interests.
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