Ugur Aridogan

Analytical modeling and experimental validation of a structurally integrated piezoelectric energy harvester on a thin plate

Vibration-based energy harvesting using piezoelectric cantilevers has been extensively studied over the past decade. As an alternative to cantilevered harvesters, piezoelectric patch harvesters integrated to thin plates can be more convenient for use in marine, aerospace and automotive applications since these systems are often composed of thin plate-like structures with various boundary conditions. In this paper, we present analytical electroelastic modeling of a piezoelectric energy harvester structurally integrated to a thin plate along with experimental validations. The distributed-parameter electroelastic model of the thin plate with the piezoceramic patch harvester is developed based on Kirchhoff’s plate theory for all-four-edges clamped (CCCC) boundary conditions. Closed-form steady-state response expressions for coupled electrical output and structural vibration are obtained under transverse point force excitation. Analytical electroelastic frequency response functions (FRFs) relating the voltage output and vibration response to force input are derived and generalized for different boundary conditions. Experimental validation and extensive theoretical analysis efforts are then presented with a case study employing a thin PZT-5A piezoceramic patch attached on the surface of a rectangular aluminum CCCC plate. The importance of positioning of the piezoceramic patch harvester is discussed through an analysis of dynamic strain distribution on the overall plate surface. The electroelastic model is validated by a comparison of analytical and experimental FRFs for a wide range of resistive electrical boundary conditions. Finally, power generation performance of the structurally integrated piezoceramic patch harvester from multiple vibration modes is investigated analytically and experimentally.

A review of active vibration and noise suppression of plate-like structures with piezoelectric transducers

Structural vibrations are the major causes of noise problems, passenger discomforts, and mechanical failures in aerospace, automotive, and marine systems, which are mainly composed of lightweight and flexible plate-like structures. In order to reduce structural vibrations and noise radiations of lightweight structures, passive and active treatments have been used and investigated over the last three decades. Our aim of this article is to review current state-of-the-art of active vibration and noise suppression systems for plate and plate-like structures with various kinds of boundary conditions. The reviewed articles use numerical methods and experimental tools to study different aspects of controller architectures. In particular, the focus is placed on the active vibration and noise control systems utilizing piezoelectric patches as sensors and actuators since their popularity in vibration-based applications has increased significantly during the last two decades. We first classify the controllers according to their architectures, then compare their performance in vibration and noise attenuation, and finally provide suggestions for further progress. The categorization of the information regarding the controller strategies and sensor/actuator configurations for different host structures can be used by the controller designers as a starting point for their specific configuration.

A Numerical and Experimental Study of Optimal Velocity Feedback Control for Vibration Suppression of a Plate-Like Structure

This study presents a numerical and an experimental study on an active vibration control system. The system includes a fully-clamped plate and two surface bonded piezoelectric actuators and a collocated velocity sensor at one of the actuator locations. One of the piezoelectric actuators is used for disturbance actuation and the other one is used for control actuation. A model based optimal velocity feedback controller is used as control algorithm. The disturbance and actuator models are obtained through experimental characterization of the plate under the effect of the disturbance source. A representative SIMULINK model is built in parallel to the development of the experimental setup in order to investigate performance of the controller for various control parameters. After the model based optimal controller is designed, performance of the optimal velocity feedback controller is validated with the experimental study by comparing the vibration suppression values at multiple modes of the structure. Results show that the developed control methodology effectively suppresses the vibration amplitudes at multiple modes of the structure and also vibration attenuation levels can be predicted accurately with the simulations for various controller design parameters. It is also demonstrated that using an optimal controller enhances the performance of the system as opposed to just using velocity feedback algorithm for the active vibration control of the smart plate.

Multiple patch–based broadband piezoelectric energy harvesting on plate-based structures

Several engineering systems, such as aircraft structures, are composed of load-bearing thin plates that undergo vibrations and employ wireless health, usage, and condition monitoring components, which can be made self-powered using vibrational energy harvesting technologies. Integrated piezoelectric patches can be implemented for enabling self-powered sensors in the neighborhood of plate-based structures. In this work, coupled electroelastic modeling and experimental validations of broadband energy harvesting from structurally integrated piezoelectric patches on a rectangular thin plate are presented. A distributed-parameter electroelastic model for multiple patch–based energy harvesters attached on a thin plate is developed. Closed-form structural and electrical response expressions are derived for multiple vibration modes of a fully clamped thin plate for the series and parallel connection configurations of multiple patch–based energy harvesters. Experimental and analytical case studies are then compared for validating the analytical models of structurally integrated multiple patch–based energy harvesters. It is shown that analytical electroelastic frequency response functions exhibit very good agreement with the experimental frequency response function measurements for the series and parallel connection cases. In addition to offering an effective interface for energy harvesting from two-dimensional thin structures, series and parallel multiple patch–based energy harvester configurations yield effective broadband energy harvesting by combining the electrical outputs of harvester patches for multiple vibration modes.

Random vibration energy harvesting on thin plates using multiple piezopatches

Vibrational energy harvesting using piezoelectric cantilever beams has received significant attention over the past decade. When compared to piezoelectric cantilever-based harvesters, piezopatch energy harvesters integrated on plate-like thin structures can be a more efficient and compact option to supply electrical power for wireless structural health and condition monitoring systems. In this article, electroelastic modeling, analytical and numerical solutions, and experimental validations of piezopatch-based energy harvesting from stationary random vibrations of thin plates are presented. Electroelastic models for the series and parallel connected multiple piezopatches are given based on a distributed-parameter modeling approach for a thin host plate excited by a transverse point force. The analytical and numerical solutions for the mean power output and the mean-square shunted vibration response are then derived. The experimental measurements are carried out by employing a fully clamped thin plate with three piezopatches connected in series. It is shown that the analytical and numerical model predictions for the mean power output and the mean-square velocity response are in very good agreement with the experimental measurements. The electroelastic modeling framework and solution methods presented in this work can be used for design, performance analysis, and optimization of piezoelectric energy harvesting from stationary random vibration of thin plates.

Investigation of an Active Structural Acoustic Control System on a Complex 3D Structure

Interior noise inside the passenger cabin of ground vehicles can be classified as structure-borne and airborne. The disturbance caused by the engine forces excites the panels enclosing the passenger cabin to vibrate at their resonance frequencies. These vibrating panels cause changes in the sound pressure levels within the passenger cabin, and consequently generating an undesirable booming noise. In this study, we developed a methodology to design an active structural acoustic controller (ASAC) to attenuate the structure-borne noise, which is mainly caused by the most influential radiating panel. The panel is determined by conducting panel acoustic contribution analysis (PACA) based on the acoustic transfer vector (ATV) methodology. Then, active structural acoustic controller is designed for vibration suppression of this panel, which has complex geometry and boundary conditions. The performance of the controller for noise reduction is investigated for various controller parameters and sensor/actuator positions. It is shown that an optimization algorithm is required to determine the optimum controller parameters and sensor/actuator positions to reduce sound pressure levels inside the cabin efficiently.

Finite element modeling of a vibrating touch screen actuated by piezo patches for haptic feedback

The aim of our work is to design a touch screen for displaying vibrotactile haptic feedback to the user via piezo patches attached to its surface. One of the challenges in the design is the selection of appropriate boundary conditions and the piezo configurations (location and orientation) on the screen for achieving optimum performance within the limits of human haptic perception. To investigate the trade-offs in our design, we developed a finite element model of the screen and four piezo actuators attached to its surface in ABAQUS. The model utilizes the well-known Hookes law between stress and strain extended by piezoelectric coupling. After selecting the appropriate boundary condition for the screen based on the range of vibration frequencies detectable by a human finger, the optimum configuration for the piezo patches is determined by maximizing the vibration amplitude of the screen for a unit micro Coulomb charge applied to each piezo patch. The results of our study suggest that the piezo patches should be placed close to the clamped sides of the screen where the boundary conditions are applied.

Piezoelectric Patch-Based Energy Harvesting on a Heavy Duty Vehicle Panel

Vibration-based energy harvesting has drawn significant attention from different engineering disciplines over the last two decades. The studies in this research area have mostly concentrated on cantilevered piezoelectric beam harvesters under base excitations. As an alternative to beam arrangements, patch-based piezoelectric energy harvesters can be integrated on large plate-like structures such as panels of automotive, marine and aerospace applications to extract useful electrical power during their operation. In this paper, electroelastic finite element (FE) simulations of a patch-based piezoelectric energy harvester structurally integrated on a panel of a heavy duty vehicle are presented during different phases of operation. FE model of the panel together with a piezoceramic harvester patch is built using ANSYS software. The FE model takes into account coupled electromechanical dynamics and the fully-conductive electrode layers of the harvester patch. The vibration response of the panel as well as the voltage output of the harvester patch under operating conditions is simulated using the forces obtained from experimental measurements on the heavy duty vehicle. Excitation forces are calculated from operational acceleration measurements using matrix inversion method, which is a force identification technique. Two different operating conditions of the heavy duty vehicle are considered: stationary and moving on a test track while the engine was running. Using the excitation forces in the FE simulations, the electrical power generation of the harvester patch is predicted for a wide range of resistive loads. Electrical power outputs are then presented for short-circuit and open-circuit conditions. The numerical results show that the use of a harvester patch attached on a panel of a heavy duty vehicle generates reasonably well electrical power outputs.Copyright

Broadband and band-limited random vibration energy harvesting using a piezoelectric patch on a thin plate

This paper presents analytical modeling and case studies of broadband and band-limited random vibration energy harvesting using a piezoceramic patch attached on a thin plate. The literature of vibration-based energy harvesting has been mostly focused on resonant cantilevered structures. However, cantilevered beam-type harvesters have limited broadband vibration energy harvesting capabilities unless they are combined with a nonlinear component. Moreover, cantilever arrangements cannot always be mounted on thin structures (which are basic components of marine, aerospace, and ground transportation systems) without significantly affecting the host system’s design and overall dynamics. A patch-based piezoelectric energy harvester structurally integrated to a thin plate can be a proper alternative to using resonant cantilevers for harvesting energy from thin structures. Besides, plate-like structures have more number of vibration modes compared to beam structures, offering better broadband performance characteristics. In this paper, we present analytical modelling of patch-based piezoelectric energy harvester attached on a thin plate for random vibrations. The analytical model is based on electromechanically-coupled distributed-parameter formulation and validated by comparing the electromechanical frequency response functions (FRFs) with experimental results. Example case studies are then presented to investigate the expected power output of a piezoceramic patch attached on an aluminum plate for the case of random force excitations. The effect of bandwidth of random excitation on the mean power and shunted mean-square vibration response are explored with a focus on the number of vibration modes covered in the frequency range of input power spectral density (PSD).

Multiple Patch-Based Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting From Multiple Vibration Modes of Thin Plates

Vibration-based energy harvesting using cantilevered piezoelectric beam has been extensively studied over the last decade. In this study, as an alternative to resonant piezoelectric cantilevers, we studied multiple patch-based piezoelectric energy harvesting from multiple vibration modes of thin plates. Analytical electroelastic model of the multiple patch-based piezoelectric harvesters attached on a thin plate is provided based on distributed-parameter modeling approach for series and parallel configurations of the patches. An experimental setup is built with series-configuration of double patch-based harvesters attached on the surfaces of all-four-edges clamped (CCCC) rectangular aluminum plate. Analytical simulations and experimental validations of power generation of the harvesters are performed in a case study. The experimental and analytical frequency response functions (FRF) relating voltage output and vibration response to force input are obtained. The analytical model is validated by comparing analytical and experimental FRFs for a wide range of resistive electrical boundary conditions. The harvested power output across the various resistive loads is explored with a focus on the first four modes of the aluminum plate. Experimental and analytical results are shown to be in agreement for multiple patch-based piezoelectric energy harvesting from multiple vibration modes of thin plates.© 2013 ASME