Energy Harvesting with Piezoelectric Element Using Vibroacoustic Coupling Phenomenon

Abstract

This paper describes the vibroacoustic coupling between the structural vibrations and internal sound fields of thin structures. In this study, a cylindrical structure with thin end plates is subjected to the harmonic point force at one end plate or both end plates, and a natural frequency of the end plates is selected as the forcing frequency. The resulting vibroacoustic coupling is then analyzed theoretically and experimentally by considering the dynamic behavior of the plates and the acoustic characteristics of the internal sound field as a function of the cylinder length. The length and phase difference between the plate vibrations, which maximize the sound pressure level inside the cavity, are clarified theoretically. The theoretical results are validated experimentally through an excitation experiment using an experimental apparatus that emulates the analytical model. Moreover, the electricity generation experiment verifies that sufficient vibroacoustic coupling can be created for the adopted electricity generating system to be effective as an electric energy-harvesting device.

Electricity Generation Characteristics of Energy-Harvesting System with Piezoelectric Element Using Mechanical-Acoustic Coupling

“…Then the effect of the excitation position with respect to the nodal lines on the appearance of vibration modes on the plates was investigated [9]. Finally, because a phase difference between both plate vibrations affects strongly mechanicalacoustic coupling, this coupling was considered in the cases, in which one end plate and both end plates were excited by a harmonic point force, respectively [10,11]. In particular, [10] made reference to the electricity generation with piezoelectric elements using coupling, as well as this paper.…”

“…Finally, because a phase difference between both plate vibrations affects strongly mechanicalacoustic coupling, this coupling was considered in the cases, in which one end plate and both end plates were excited by a harmonic point force, respectively [10,11]. In particular, [10] made reference to the electricity generation with piezoelectric elements using coupling, as well as this paper. However, the effect of coupling was not clarified and has remained unclear, because the theoretical consideration was not carried out and the effect was not compared between the electricity generations using and not using coupling.…”