Analytical solution and numerical validation of piezoelectric energy harvester patch for various thin multilayer composite plates

• Published in: Archive of applied mechanics (1991) 2018-07, Vol.88 (7), p.1139-1161
• Main Authors: Paknejad, Ahmad, Rahimi, Gholamhossein, Salmani, Hamed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Boundary conditions; Classical Mechanics; Composite structures; Electric potential; Energy harvesting; Engineering; Excitation; Finite element method; Mathematical models; Multilayers; Original; Orthotropic plates; Parameters; Piezoelectricity; Plate theory; Strain analysis; Strain distribution; Structural vibration; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Vibration mode
• ISSN: 0939-1533; 1432-0681
• DOI: 10.1007/s00419-018-1363-0

The study of vibrational energy harvesting using piezoelectric patch integrated on isotropic beam-like or plate-like thin structures has received significant attention over the past decade. Multilayer orthotropic composite plates are widely used in aerospace, automotive and marine applications, where they can be considered as host structures for vibration-based energy harvesting. In this paper, an exact analytical solution and numerical validation of a piezoelectric energy harvester structurally integrated to a thin multilayer orthotropic plate are presented. Electroelastic model of the thin multilayer composite plate with the piezoelectric patch harvester is developed based on a distributed parameter modeling approach with classical laminate plate theory assumptions for all-four-edge-clamped (CCCC) boundary condition. Closed-form steady-state expressions for coupled electrical outputs and structural vibration response are derived under harmonic transverse force excitation in the presence of a resistive load. Analytical electroelastic FRFs related to the voltage output as well as vibration response to force input are derived and generalized for different boundary conditions of host plate. The results of numerical and analytical models from multiple vibration modes are compared first for validating the analytical model with a case study employing a thin PZT-5A piezoceramic patch attached on the surface of a multilayer orthotropic composite CCCC plate. For this purpose, finite-element analysis is carried out by using ANSYS mechanical APDL software. Then, it is important to specify parameters in energy harvesting model, so positioning of piezoceramic patch harvester and excitation point force on the voltage output FRFs is discussed through an analysis of dynamic strain distribution on the overall plate surface. In addition, the effects of various composite laminate plates with different stacking sequences as host structures on generated power are discussed in details as well.