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The paper studies the influence of tip curvature on the electrical response of a piezoelectric energy harvester, on a direction other than the charge generation one. Finite element analyses were conducted for the given piezoelectric transducer, which show an increase in the voltage output if blocking the tip curvature on yOz plane between two bars, leaving free only the deflection on xOz plane. The comparison was made between cantilever tip constrained with bars and cantilever with an equivalent proof mass respectively. The simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics are furthermore validated by experimental laboratory tests, confirming the increase of the electric output potential with ~8%. This occurs due to inducing higher stress into the structure by blocking its tip curvature. The frequency response, defined between base excitation and the output voltage, was determined using an impedance analyser. The bars also act as a proof mass, thus decreasing the resonant frequency optimally down to the vibration frequencies of an oil-free compressor’s downstream pipe on which the transducer will be mounted in order to harness the inherent vibrations and subsequently power wireless sensors.

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