Mechanical response during bending of Ni–Mn–Ga-based melt-spun ribbons

In this paper, we report on mechanical properties observed during bending experiments conducted on quinary Ni–Mn–Ga–Co–Cu melt-spun ribbons. Depending on the ribbon’s side to which force is applied, different mechanical response is noted. Substantially larger mechanical instabilities are observed when force is applied to the “free side” than to the “wheel side” of ribbons. When force is applied to the latter, much lower force fluctuations are recorded and the amplitude of the force–displacement response remains within the experimental resolution limit. It is also shown that the character of the force–displacement curve changes upon cycling; mainly by decreasing the maximum force and mechanical hysteresis. These results are important for materials design and optimization of the magnetic field-induced bending effect recently shown in Ni–Mn–Ga-based melt-spun ribbons.