Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects
This paper proposes a versatile non-linear model for predicting piezoelectric energy harvester performance. The presented model includes (i) material non-linearity, for both substrate and piezoelectric layers, and (ii) geometric non-linearity incorporated by assuming inextensibility and accurately r...
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| Format: | Article |
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IOP Publishing
2014
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49945/ |
| _version_ | 1848798116436770816 |
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| author | Patel, R. McWilliam, S. Popov, A.A. |
| author_facet | Patel, R. McWilliam, S. Popov, A.A. |
| author_sort | Patel, R. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This paper proposes a versatile non-linear model for predicting piezoelectric energy harvester performance. The presented model includes (i) material non-linearity, for both substrate and piezoelectric layers, and (ii) geometric non-linearity incorporated by assuming inextensibility and accurately representing beam curvature. The addition of a sub-model, which utilizes the transfer matrix method to predict eigenfrequencies and eigenvectors for segmented beams, allows for accurate optimization of piezoelectric layer coverage. A validation of the overall theoretical model is performed through experimental testing on both uniform and non-uniform samples manufactured in-house. For the harvester composition used in this work, the magnitude of material non-linearity exhibited by the piezoelectric layer is 35 times greater than that of the substrate layer. It is also observed that material non-linearity, responsible for reductions in resonant frequency with increases in base acceleration, is dominant over geometric non-linearity for standard piezoelectric harvesting devices. Finally, over the tested range, energy loss due to damping is found to increase in a quasi-linear fashion with base acceleration. During an optimization study on piezoelectric layer coverage, results from the developed model were compared with those from a linear model. Unbiased comparisons between harvesters were realized by using devices with identical natural frequencies—created by adjusting the device substrate thickness. Results from three studies, each with a different assumption on mechanical damping variations, are presented. Findings showed that, depending on damping variation, a non-linear model is essential for such optimization studies with each model predicting vastly differing optimum configurations. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:14:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-49945 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:14:39Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-499452020-05-04T16:49:20Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49945/ Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects Patel, R. McWilliam, S. Popov, A.A. This paper proposes a versatile non-linear model for predicting piezoelectric energy harvester performance. The presented model includes (i) material non-linearity, for both substrate and piezoelectric layers, and (ii) geometric non-linearity incorporated by assuming inextensibility and accurately representing beam curvature. The addition of a sub-model, which utilizes the transfer matrix method to predict eigenfrequencies and eigenvectors for segmented beams, allows for accurate optimization of piezoelectric layer coverage. A validation of the overall theoretical model is performed through experimental testing on both uniform and non-uniform samples manufactured in-house. For the harvester composition used in this work, the magnitude of material non-linearity exhibited by the piezoelectric layer is 35 times greater than that of the substrate layer. It is also observed that material non-linearity, responsible for reductions in resonant frequency with increases in base acceleration, is dominant over geometric non-linearity for standard piezoelectric harvesting devices. Finally, over the tested range, energy loss due to damping is found to increase in a quasi-linear fashion with base acceleration. During an optimization study on piezoelectric layer coverage, results from the developed model were compared with those from a linear model. Unbiased comparisons between harvesters were realized by using devices with identical natural frequencies—created by adjusting the device substrate thickness. Results from three studies, each with a different assumption on mechanical damping variations, are presented. Findings showed that, depending on damping variation, a non-linear model is essential for such optimization studies with each model predicting vastly differing optimum configurations. IOP Publishing 2014-06-18 Article PeerReviewed Patel, R., McWilliam, S. and Popov, A.A. (2014) Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects. Smart Materials and Structures, 23 (8). 085002/1-085002/17. ISSN 1361-665X energy harvesting piezoelectric beam geometric non-linearity material non-linearity coverage optimization mechanical damping http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0964-1726/23/8/085002/meta doi:10.1088/0964-1726/23/8/085002 doi:10.1088/0964-1726/23/8/085002 |
| spellingShingle | energy harvesting piezoelectric beam geometric non-linearity material non-linearity coverage optimization mechanical damping Patel, R. McWilliam, S. Popov, A.A. Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects |
| title | Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects |
| title_full | Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects |
| title_fullStr | Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects |
| title_short | Optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects |
| title_sort | optimization of piezoelectric cantilever energy harvesters including non-linear effects |
| topic | energy harvesting piezoelectric beam geometric non-linearity material non-linearity coverage optimization mechanical damping |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49945/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49945/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/49945/ |