Study on Starting Performance of Ni-Mn-Ga Magnetic Shape Memory Alloy Linear Actuator

This paper describes the startup performance of a linear actuator made from Ni-Mn-Ga magnetic shape memory alloy, which is driven by an external magnetic field and a return spring. This actuator produces large displacements compared with conventional magnetostrictive materials. However, it is difficult to control due to the hysteresis of Ni-Mn-Ga. The strain and magnetic field intensity characteristics of Ni-Mn-Ga are simplified and modeled for the simulation. A transient electromagnetic field—structural coupled analysis of the startup performance of the actuator is conducted using the 3-D finite element method. The results are verified by carrying out measurements on a prototype.