TENSOR MAGNETOSTRICTION LOOPS FOR A STEEL CUBE

Tensor magnetostriction loops were measured for a 25 mm steel cube. Th e volume magnetostriction of the cube was calculated for the magnetic field applied in three orthogonal directions parallel to the edge dire ctions of the cube. The tensor magnetostriction loops are interpreted in terms of domain wall motion and magnetization vector rotation, as w ell as the existence of a magnetic easy axis in the sample, which is e videnced by the asymmetry of the tensor magnetostriction loops. The re lative magnetic easy axis determined from the tensor magnetostriction loops is consistent with that determined from the tensor magnetic hyst eresis loops measured previously. A new parameter termed magnetic Pois son's ratio is introduced to describe the relative dimensional changes in the longitudinal and transverse directions with respect to the app lied field directions.