ABSTRACT Title of Thesis: DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOTYPE MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE

Title of Thesis: DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTOTYPE MAGNETOSTRICTIVE ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE Mark Elliott Staley, Master of Science, 2005 Thesis directed by: Professor Alison B. Flatau Department of Aerospace Engineering To enhance performance and safety, structures of all types are made “smart” with the addition of sensors. These sensors require power, but in some cases conventional power supply methods are inadequate. Ideally, these sensors would convert the available ambient energy into electrical energy. This thesis develops and examines a prototype energy harvesting transducer which converts mechanical vibration into electrical energy. The transducer utilizes the coupling between the magnetic and elastic state of magnetostrictive materials along with a flux-linked coil for conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. The examined transducer doesn’t affect the stiffness characteristics of the host structure, but as a result its performance is dependant on a resonance condition. Experimental results led to coupled optimization of prestress and magnetic bias. An electric circuit model is proposed and compared to test results. Efficiency calculations prove the current transducer to be inefficient, but possible areas of significant improvement were identified. Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE 2005 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED 00-00-2005 to 00-00-2005 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Development of a Prototype Magnetostrictive Energy Harvesting Device 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER