The large deflections of a clamped circular plate are investigated over a wide range of transverse loadings and initial in-plane tension loads. The continuous transition from plate behavior to membrane behavior is described in detail, along with the development of the accompanying edge zone region where properties change rapidly. We give a simple approximation of this edge zone and its properties, provide limits for the validity of small deflection, linear theory, and note the similar effects of large in-plane tension and large transverse loading. The values and trends are presented in general nondimensional form, and should prove useful for the design of thin circular disks for microsensing applications.

An electromechanically coupled model for a cantilevered piezoelectric energy harvester with a proof mass is presented. Proof masses are essential in microscale devices to move device resonances towards optimal frequency points for harvesting. Such devices with proof masses have not been rigorously modeled previously; instead, lumped mass or concentrated point masses at arbitrary points on the beam have been used. Thus, this work focuses on the exact vibration analysis of cantilevered energy harvester devices including a tip proof mass. The model is based not only on a detailed modal analysis, but also on a thorough investigation of damping ratios that can significantly affect device performance. A model with multiple degrees of freedom is developed and then reduced to a single-mode model, yielding convenient closed-form normalized predictions of device performance. In order to verify the analytical model, experimental tests are undertaken on a macroscale, symmetric, bimorph, piezoelectric energy harvester with proof masses of different geometries. The model accurately captures all aspects of the measured response, including the location of peak-power operating points at resonance and anti-resonance, and trends such as the dependence of the maximal power harvested on the frequency. It is observed that even a small change in proof mass geometry results in a substantial change of device performance due not only to the frequency shift, but also to the effect on the strain distribution along the device length. Future work will include the optimal design of devices for various applications, and quantification of the importance of nonlinearities (structural and piezoelectric coupling) for device performance.

A buckled beam with fixed ends, excited by the harmonic motion of its supporting base, was investigated analytically and experimentally. Using Galerkin’s method the governing partial differential equation reduced to a modified Duffing equation, which was solved by the harmonic balance method. Besides the solution of simple harmonic motion (SHM), other branch solutions involving superharmonic motion (SPHM) were found experimentally and analytically. The stability of the steady-state SHM and SPHM solutions were analyzed by solving a variational Hill-type equation. The importance of the second mode on these results was examined by a similar stability analysis. The Runge-Kutta numerical integration method was used to investigate the snap-through problem. Intermittent, as well as continuous, snap-through behavior was obtained. The theoretical results agreed well with the experiments.