Non-linear piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting from a vertical cantilever beam with tip mass

Friswell, M. I., Ali, S. F., Bilgen, O., Adhikari, S. , Lees, A. W. and Litak, G. (2012) Non-linear piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting from a vertical cantilever beam with tip mass. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 23(13), pp. 1505-1521. (doi: 10.1177/1045389X12455722)

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Abstract

A common energy harvesting device uses a piezoelectric patch on a cantilever beam with a tip mass. The usual configuration exploits the linear resonance of the system; this works well for harmonic excitation and when the natural frequency is accurately tuned to the excitation frequency. A new configuration is proposed, consisting of a cantilever beam with a tip mass that is mounted vertically and excited in the transverse direction at its base. This device is highly non-linear with two potential wells for large tip masses, when the beam is buckled. The system dynamics may include multiple solutions and jumps between the potential wells, and these are exploited in the harvesting device. The electromechanical equations of motion for this system are developed, and its response for a range of parameters is investigated using phase portraits and bifurcation diagrams. The model is validated using an experimental device with three different tip masses, representing three interesting cases: a linear system; a low natural frequency, non-buckled beam; and a buckled beam. The most practical configuration seems to be the pre-buckled case, where the proposed system has a low natural frequency, a high level of harvested power and an increased bandwidth over a linear harvester.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Adhikari, Professor Sondipon
Authors: Friswell, M. I., Ali, S. F., Bilgen, O., Adhikari, S., Lees, A. W., and Litak, G.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
Journal Name:Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:1045-389X
ISSN (Online):1530-8138
Published Online:24 August 2012

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