A continuum thermodynamics formulation for micro-magneto-mechanics with applications to ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

A continuum thermodynamics formulation for micromagnetics coupled with mechanics is devised to model the evolution of magnetic domain and martensite twin structures in ferromagnetic shape memory alloys. The theory falls into the class of phase-field or diffuse-interface modeling approaches. In addition to the standard mechanical and magnetic balance laws, two sets of micro-forces and their associated balance laws are postulated; one set for the magnetization order parameter and one set for the martensite order parameter. Next, the second law of thermodynamics is analyzed to identify the appropriate material constitutive relationships. The proposed formulation does not constrain the magnitude of the magnetization to be constant, allowing for spontaneous magnetization changes associated with strain and temperature. The equations governing the evolution of the magnetization are shown to reduce to the commonly accepted Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equations for the case where the magnetization magnitude is constant. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that under certain limiting conditions, the equations governing the evolution of the martensite-free strain are shown to be equivalent to a hyperelastic strain gradient theory. Finally, numerical solutions are presented to investigate the fundamental interactions between the magnetic domain wall and the martensite twin boundary in ferromagnetic shape memory alloys. These calculations determine under what conditions the magnetic domain wall and the martensite twin boundary can be dissociated, resulting in a limit to the actuating strength of the material.