magnetostriction
(mægˌniːtəʊˈstrɪkʃən)
[f. magneto- + L. strictiōn-em drawing or pressing together (f. stringere to draw together, draw tight).]
A dependence of the state of strain of a body (and hence its dimensions) on its state of magnetization. Freq. attrib.
| 1896 Phil. Mag. XLI. 454 (heading) On the effects of magnetic stress in magnetostriction. 1926 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. CXIII. 657 A reciprocal relation between magneto-striction and the effect of stress on magnetisation was investigated experimentally. 1937 Nature 18 Dec. 1068/2 A magnetostriction oscillator has been developed which produces intense audible vibrations of frequencies of 8000 cycles per second, capable of fracturing glass. 1959 H. Barnes Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. 74 The magneto-striction effect depends upon the fact that when certain metals, notably nickel, are placed in a varying magnetic field they undergo mechanical changes; nickel itself contracts in an increasing and expands in a decreasing magnetic field. As with the mechanical changes brought about by the piezo-electric effect, these also may be transmitted to a medium and, if they are sufficiently rapid, ultrasonic waves are produced. 1966 C. R. Tottle Sci. Engin. Materials vi. 138 Iron crystals expand along the direction of magnetization and contract at right-angles to it, whereas nickel contracts along the magnetization direction and expands perpendicular to it. This phenomenon is known as magnetostriction. |
Hence magˌnetoˈstrictive a., of, exhibiting, or employing magnetostriction.
| 1911 Chem. Abstr. V. 1550 (heading) A study of the Joule and Wiedemann magnetostrictive effects in steel tubes. 1939 Nature 11 Mar. 416/1 Pierce and the late J. H. Vincent independently developed similar oscillators based upon the magnetostrictive properties of iron and nickel and their alloys. 1951 Electronic Engin. XXIII. 16 The maximum dimensional change is obtained when the magnetostrictive element is excited at its natural resonant frequency. 1964 T. W. McRae Impact of Computers on Accounting i. 6 The Ferranti ‘Pegasus’ introduced the so-called magnetostrictive delay line store, whereby a mechanical stress wave passing along a wire represents a bit. |