Nonlinear piezoelectricity in electroelastic energy harvesters: Modeling and experimental identification

Abstract

We propose and experimentally validate a first-principles based model for the nonlinear piezoelectric response of an electroelastic energy harvester. The analysis herein highlights the importance of modeling inherent piezoelectric nonlinearities that are not limited to higher order elastic effects but also include nonlinear coupling to a power harvesting circuit. Furthermore, a nonlinear damping mechanism is shown to accurately restrict the amplitude and bandwidth of the frequency response. The linear piezoelectric modeling framework widely accepted for theoretical investigations is demonstrated to be a weak presumption for near-resonant excitation amplitudes as low as 0.5 g in a prefabricated bimorph whose oscillation amplitudes remain geometrically linear for the full range of experimental tests performed ͑never exceeding 0.25% of the cantilever overhang length͒. Nonlinear coefficients are identified via a nonlinear least-squares optimization algorithm that utilizes an approximate analytic solution obtained by the method of harmonic balance. For lead zirconate titanate ͑PZT-5H͒, we obtained a fourth order elastic tensor component of c 1111 p = −3.6673ϫ 10 17 N / m 2 and a fourth order electroelastic tensor value of e 3111 = 1.7212 ϫ 10 8 m / V.

An experimental study on self-powered vibration control and monitoring system using electromagnetic TMD and wireless sensors

“…In particular, vibration-based energy harvesting techniques were developed based on various different transduction mechanisms, e.g. electromagnetic induction [4][5][6], piezoelectricity [7][8][9][10], electrostatic generation [11] dielectric elastomers [12] and so on. Many vibration-based energy harvesting devices are essentially micro or small resonant structures (e.g.…”

Efficient parametric amplification in micro-resonators with integrated piezoelectric actuation and sensing capabilities

“…24 Because of the asymmetric beam cross-section (due to the layered structure) as well as the initial curvature of the structures at rest (stemming from residual stress), the sign of C is not necessarily positive, and hardening as well as softening behaviors can be obtained. 25 It must be noted that piezoelectric nonlinearities can also produce a softening effect, 26,27 due to the comparatively lower mobility of ferroelastic domain walls in thin PZT film and clamped PZT structures. 28,29 This effect is expected to be modest in this work.…”

Resonant manifestation of intrinsic nonlinearity within electroelastic micropower generators

“…Accordingly, the contents of this letter are inspired by three major objectives: ͑1͒ to experimentally demonstrate the effect of material nonlinearity in another common lead zirconate titanate ceramic ͑PZT-5A͒, ͑2͒ employ a framework for nonlinear modeling, and ͑3͒ identify higher-order tensor values for a PZT-5A and compare to existing results for PZT-5H as studied in Ref. 3.…”