A multiscale-based approach for composite materials with embedded PZT filaments for energy harvesting

Abstract

Ambient vibrations are major source of wasted energy, exploiting properly such vibration can be converted to valuable energy and harvested to power up devices, i.e. electronic devices. Accordingly, energy harvesting using smart structures with active piezoelectric ceramics has gained wide interest over the past few years as a method for converting such wasted energy. This paper provides numerical and experimental analysis of piezoelectric fiber based composites for energy harvesting applications proposing a multi-scale modeling approach coupled with experimental verification.The multi-scale approach suggested to predict the behavior of piezoelectric fiber-based composites use micromechanical model based on Transformation Field Analysis (TFA) to calculate the overall material properties of electrically active composite structure. Capitalizing on the calculated properties, single-phase analysis of a homogeneous structure is conducted using finite element method. The experimental work approach involves running dynamic tests on piezoelectric fiber-based composites to simulate mechanical vibrations experienced by a subway train floor tiles. Experimental results agree well with the numerical results both for static and dynamic tests.

A review of piezoelectric energy harvesting tiles: Available designs and future perspective

“…The tile was found to be capable of lighting a sixty-chip LED lamp through a single time-stepping by a 68 kg person. El-Etriby et al [70] analyzed a fiber composite with PZT-5A particles embedded in an epoxy polymer matrix for applications in energy harvesting tile. The effective electro-elastic coefficients were calculated using a transformation field analysis (TFA), and finite element analysis was conducted to examine the dynamic behavior of the cantilever beam constructed using the campsite.…”

Stent with Piezoelectric Transducers for High Spatial Resolution Ultrasound Neuromodulation- a Finite Element Analysis

“…Piezoelectric material exhibits symmetry, the type of piezoelectric material determines which matrix values are non-zero and unique. Below a matrix is given for a polled PZT ceramic [98].…”

Piezoelectric Sensors Pressed by Human Footsteps for Energy Harvesting

“…Pedestrian energy harvesting utilises the piezoelectricity phenomenon to convert the kinetic energy created by individuals walking, jogging, and leaping into electricity. This technology has the potential to power a wide range of applications, from powering small sensors to illuminating streets, to even charging electric vehicles as a future dream [1,2].…”

“…Researchers have used a variety of designs to embed piezoelectric components for mechanical-to-electric energy conversion in floor tiles. These designs are roughly categorised into three primary types: cantilever type [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], curved type [9][10][11], and ar-ray/stacked type [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22], depending on the type of piezoelectric element utilised. However, the most readily accessible piezoelectric energy harvesters are piezoelectric diaphragms, which are simple to attach to any planar surface using an adhesive.…”