Multi-physics coupling model of high-power giant magnetostrictive transducer considering the spatio-temporal distribution of temperature

• A test platform for thermal properties of giant magnetostrictive materials. • Test method for thermal properties of giant magnetostrictive materials. • Modeling methods that consider temperature distribution and material properties. • The temperature performance of giant magnetostrictive transducer is studied. The high-power giant magnetostrictive transducer (GMT) is crucial for underwater active target detection systems. The giant magnetostrictive material (GMM) rod functions as the principal vibrating component and determines the output efficacy of the GMT. Extended high-power use of the GMM leads to significant overheating, which alters its properties and causes erratic fluctuations in the GMT’s output performance. Current research frequently neglects the thermal impacts on high-power GMT. This study introduces a test platform with constant-temperature heating to comprehensively assess the performance parameters of large-scale GMM under various conditions. The experimental data outlines the magnetic-thermal–mechanical relationship of GMM, and a multi-physical field-coupling model of GMT that incorporates temperature gradients is introduced. A prototype is ultimately developed for empirical validation, indicating that the model’s maximum error is roughly 4.29 %. This method provides a thorough analysis of GMT performance fluctuations and acts as a standard for developing long-term GMT operational strategy.