A Proof-of-Concept Study on an Internal-Resonance-Based Piezoelectric Energy Harvester With Coupled Three-Dimensional Bending-Torsion Motions

Abstract

By exchanging the internal energy between coupled vibration modes, internal-resonance-based energy harvesters may provide an effective solution to broadening and enhancing bandwidth and power performance in dealing with natural vibration sources. With the development of piezoelectric-based transducers, thickness and face shear coefficients in proper piezoelectric elements can also generate the power output from shear deformation on the core vibrating elements. However, in most cantilever-based energy harvesters that focused on bending modes, the shear responses were neglected. In this paper, we present an internal-resonance-based piezoelectric energy harvester with three-dimensional coupled bending and torsional modes, for the first time. The fine-tuned system leverages a two-to-one internal resonance between its first torsion and second bending modes to enhance the power output with piezoelectric effects. The dynamic behaviour implies the coexistence of in-plane and out-of-plane motions under a single excitation frequency, and the corresponding strain changes in the bending and shear directions are captured by bonded piezoelectric transducers. Dependence between excitation levels and the internal-resonance phenomenon is justified as a critical system parameter study; the results also indicate that an intriguing non-periodic region exists near the centre frequency. The outcomes of this study feature a multi-directional and multi-modal energy harvester that displays rich dynamic behaviors. The operational bandwidth is promising for broadband energy harvesting, and the output voltage is enhanced by capturing both in-plane and out-of-plane motions at the same time.

Theoretical modeling and experimental verification of a broadband microvibrational energy harvesting system

“…Additionally, a wideband two‐element piezoelectric energy harvester exhibiting both bistability and parametric resonance characteristics is presented 23 . Furthermore, Fan introduced an internal resonance piezoelectric energy harvester featuring three‐dimensionally coupled bending and torsional modes 24 . More recently, Pan et al 25 proposed a new concept by integrating bi‐stability and swinging balls to harvest wind energy and experimental results indicated that the design achieved a significant improvement in electric outputs due to its ability to realize snap‐through motions over a wide range of wind speed.…”

“…23 Furthermore, Fan introduced an internal resonance piezoelectric energy harvester featuring threedimensionally coupled bending and torsional modes. 24 More recently, Pan et al 25 proposed a new concept by integrating bi-stability and swinging balls to harvest wind energy and experimental results indicated that the design achieved a significant improvement in electric outputs due to its ability to realize snap-through motions over a wide range of wind speed. To enhance the efficiency of energy harvesting from vibrations characterized by low excitation levels and a broad frequency spectrum, a variety of nonlinear configurations exhibiting tristable, [26][27][28] quad-stable, 29,30 and penta-stable 31,32 characteristics have been proposed and investigated theoretically and experimentally.…”

Broadband energy harvesting in a two-degree-of-freedom nonlinear system without internal resonance

“…Aravindan and Ali (2021) analyzed the nonlinear dynamics behaviors and harvesting performance of a one-to-three internally resonant piezoelectric cantilever beam with a lumped mass under harmonic excitation and showed that the higher mode invoked through internal resonance plays a significant role in broadband power generation. Fan et al (2022b) presented an internal resonance piezoelectric energy harvester with three-dimensional coupled bending and torsional modes and shown that the fine-tuned system leverages a two-to-one internal resonance between its first torsion and second bending modes to enhance the power output. Huang et al (2023) designed a TDOF U-shaped single magnet bistable energy harvester based on the internal resonance technique and demonstrated the proposed system can produce a significant output in two frequency ranges.…”

A piezoelectric energy harvester with inner beam adapting to low and high wind speeds: modeling, simulation and experiment

“…The omnidirectionality of wind energy harvesting can be enhanced. Fan et al [55] enhanced the power and bandwidth by utilizing internal resonance, which also broadened the overall bandwidth.…”