On the magneto-elastic properties of elastomer-ferromagnet composites

We study the macroscopic magneto-mechanical behavior of composite materials consisting of a random, statistically homogeneous distribution of ferromagnetic, rigid inclusions embedded firmly in a non-magnetic elastic matrix. Specifically, for given applied elastic and magnetic fields, we calculate the overall deformation and stress-strain relation for such a composite, correct to second order in the particle volume fraction. Our solution accounts for the fully coupled magneto-elastic interactions; the distribution of magnetization in the composite is calculated from the basic minimum energy principle of magneto-elasticity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.