Numerical simulations of piezoelectric MEMS energy harvesters

Abstract

The application of piezoelectric materials in MEMS energy harvesters is continuously increasing, with the immediate corollary of a fundamental need for improved computational tools in order to optimize the performances at the design level. In this paper, a refined, yet simple model is proposed with the aim of providing fast and insightful solutions to the multi-physics problem of piezoelectric energy harvesting. The main objective is to retain a simple structural model (Euler-Bernoulli beam), with the inclusion of effects connected to the actual threedimensional shape of the device. A thorough presentation of the analytical model is presented, along with its validation by comparison with the results of full 3D computations

Improved one-dimensional model of piezoelectric laminates for energy harvesters including three dimensional effects

“…Numerous models have been reported, but the effect of 3D strain field on the coupling has been considered only in few cases [5,6]. In this paper, a simple 1D model is built in order to simulate piezoelectric thin beams and plate harvesters [7]. Starting from the fully coupled 3D constitutive equations of piezoelectricity, appropriate hypotheses are introduced to model strains and stresses so that the 1D model takes into account the 3D effects.…”

Computationally efficient and stable order reduction methods for a large-scale model of MEMS piezoelectric energy harvester

“…The lumped element description for the piezoelectric harvester is commonly employed to consider the interaction between the device and the circuitry [3][4][5][6][7]. With this approach, the behavior of the complex mechanical structure is approximated by an oscillator (with one degree of freedom), that is the harvester model is represented by an equivalent circuit of lumped elements (Fig.…”

Snap-Through Buckling Mechanism for Frequency-up Conversion in Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

“…One of the most common transduction mechanisms used in EH is based on the piezoelectric effect, due to higher energy density compared to electrostatic and electromagnetic conversion principles. Piezoelectric linear energy harvesters are generally manufactured as cantilever beams due to their high compliance and placed on a vibrating structure [10][11][12][13][14][15].…”