Parameter Optimization of Laminated Multiferroic Composites

The voltage coefficient of a multiferroic laminated composite consisting of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases is minimized by optimization of physical parameters of the magnetostrictive material. Two optimization schemes are considered: maximization over a discrete set of values, including parameters of several known materials, and over a continuous domain constrained by the minimal and maximal elements of the discrete set. It is shown that there exist several possible combinations of parameters at which the value of the voltage coefficient is higher than that for known homogeneous materials.