Development of a meso-scale thermo-magneto-mechanical free energy model for NiMnGa

Abstract

This paper motivates a one-dimensional thermo-magneto-mechanical free energy model for NiMnGa. Following a discussion of material behavior and modeling purpose, we present what might be referred to as a meso-scale model, incorporating micro-scale physics while striving for macro-scale simplicity. Development of the model begins with the construction of a free energy landscape for the material, with strain and magnetization as its order parameters. This landscape includes paraboloidal energy wells - isolated from each other by energy barriers - to represent stable states of the material. The energy well positions and barrier heights are allowed to vary as functions of stress, magnetic field, and temperature. The resulting equations are employed within the theory of thermally activated processes to find the phase-fraction evolution of a sample. Previous results demonstrating the potential of the modeling approach are included.