>> “Magnetostrictive materials for tunable fluid pumps” published in Proceedings of SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + NDE 2024

This paper compares the magnetostrictive properties of Metglas and Galfenol and investigates their potential as substrate materials for diaphragms to tune the performance of piezoelectric diaphragm pumps. These pumps are found in medical, automotive, and aerospace applications. Conventional diaphragm pumps consist of a vibrating diaphragm actuated by a piezoelectric wafer affixed to a rigid substrate; operating in bending mode, the diaphragm propels a specific volume of fluid across a defined space. Pump designs generally represent a trade-off between maximum output pressure and maximum flow rate. In this paper, we propose two well-established magnetostrictive materials, Metglas and Galfenol, as alternatives to conventional passive substrates to actively modulate pump characteristics such as pressure and flow rate. We experimentally characterize the Delta-E effects of Metglas and Galfenol to verify their stiffness tunability in response to magnetic fields. We develop COMSOL finite element models to simulate the performance of a commercial piezoelectric pump with and without the addition of active substrate materials. Finally, we investigate the potential for tuning the performance of diaphragm pumps with magnetostrictive substrates. This concept can enhance the efficiency of pumping mechanisms, allowing for adaptable performance across a range of specifications.