On the Nonlinear Behavior of the Piezoelectric Coupling on Vibration-Based Energy Harvesters

Vibration-based energy harvesting with piezoelectric elements has an increasing importance nowadays being related to numerous potential applications. A wide range of nonlinear effects is observed in energy harvesting devices and the analysis of the power generated suggests that they have considerabl...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luciana L. Silva, Marcelo A. Savi, Paulo C. C. Monteiro, Theodoro A. Netto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Shock and Vibration
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/739381
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Summary:Vibration-based energy harvesting with piezoelectric elements has an increasing importance nowadays being related to numerous potential applications. A wide range of nonlinear effects is observed in energy harvesting devices and the analysis of the power generated suggests that they have considerable influence on the results. Linear constitutive models for piezoelectric materials can provide inconsistencies on the prediction of the power output of the energy harvester, mainly close to resonant conditions. This paper investigates the effect of the nonlinear behavior of the piezoelectric coupling. A one-degree of freedom mechanical system is coupled to an electrical circuit by a piezoelectric element and different coupling models are investigated. Experimental tests available in the literature are employed as a reference establishing the best matches of the models. Subsequently, numerical simulations are carried out showing different responses of the system indicating that nonlinear piezoelectric couplings can strongly modify the system dynamics.
ISSN:1070-9622
1875-9203